United States › Arkansas › Hempstead County COUNTY
Hempstead County Arkansas · 19,080 residents (2025 est.) · 727 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 19,508 people, Hempstead County is a county in Arkansas. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $105,700. There are 27 people per square mile. Median household income is $46,787, under the $82,259 national median. Median rent is $815 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 23,587 in 2000
19,080 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 20K 22K 23K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Hempstead County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $46,787
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,622 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,103 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.9%
Public administration 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing 0.4%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$105,700
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$815
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 69.3% in 2000
28.3% rent
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.43 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 59.8%(14,108)
Hispanic / Latino 8.3%(1,946)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 51.5%(10,042)
Hispanic / Latino 15.3%(2,986)
from 73 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 40 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 69.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 60.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 19.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 83.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 87.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 11.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.3%(2,004)
Women 15+
Never married 30.2%(2,420)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 33.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 52.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 51.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 22%(166)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.6%(95)
Share of the 753 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Hempstead County Head to head
Compare Hempstead County to nearby counties HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Nevada County
Income $53,886 +15%
Home value $83,300 −21%
Population 7,942 −58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Pike County
Income $49,269 +5%
Home value $121,600 +15%
Population 9,964 −48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income $45,603 −3%
Home value $153,900 +46%
Population 12,306 −36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Miller County
Income $48,836 +4%
Home value $153,900 +46%
Population 42,357 +122%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Hempstead County, Arkansas? Hempstead County, Arkansas has about 19,508 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hempstead County, Arkansas? The typical household in Hempstead County, Arkansas earns about $46,787 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hempstead County, Arkansas expensive? In Hempstead County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $105,700, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.
How educated are people in Hempstead County, Arkansas? About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Hempstead County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hempstead County, Arkansas? About 20.2% of people in Hempstead County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hempstead County, Arkansas grown since 1990? Yes, Hempstead County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,113 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.
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