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COUNTY

Howard County

Arkansas · 12,306 residents (2025 est.) · 587.332 sq mi
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The short version

Howard County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,603. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $153,900. The poverty rate of 22.5% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,583
−12%since 2000
from 14,300 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
−12%since 2009
from 24 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
38.8
+7%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,306 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K13K14K14K1990201020202024Howard County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(833)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(931)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(949)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(845)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(710)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.2%(1,411)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.9%(1,747)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.5%(1,190)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.7%(1,596)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.5%(1,322)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.4%(809)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(240)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,603
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,699 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,569
+64%since 2000
from $15,586 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.5%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.458
−2%since 2010
from 0.466 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Information7.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Construction7%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$153,900
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$690
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $369 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.2% in 2000
27.5% rent
Vacancy rate
17.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.6%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+63%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
41
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Howard County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic71.5%(10,220)
Black21.8%(3,111)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(727)
Asian0.5%(71)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.9%(7,909)
Black20.8%(2,614)
Hispanic / Latino12.6%(1,582)
Asian0.6%(73)
Other3.2%(405)
Diversity Score
68
+8%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
39
+38%since 2020
from 28 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

Hispanic origin
Mexican10.6%(1,329)
Honduran1.3%(164)
Puerto Rican0.2%(23)
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(70)
Ancestry
English9.2%(1,160)
American9.1%(1,142)
German6.7%(847)
Irish6.7%(838)
Swiss1.5%(189)
Scottish1.4%(172)
French1.2%(157)
Swedish0.7%(87)
Polish0.6%(78)
British0.6%(72)
Italian0.5%(63)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(58)
Nigerian0.3%(40)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(36)
Dutch0.2%(24)
Bulgarian0.1%(16)
Ghanaian0.1%(9)
Ukrainian0.1%(9)
Welsh0.1%(8)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.7%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 70.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+40%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.8%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
5.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−43.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 18.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.9%
−69.2 ptssince 2013
from 79.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.8%
+20.0 ptssince 2017
from 60.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 86.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 10.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.4%(1,316)
Married54%(2,504)
Widowed2.7%(126)
Divorced14.9%(693)
Women 15+
Never married24.4%(1,278)
Married47.5%(2,487)
Widowed14.3%(747)
Divorced13.7%(719)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 13,270
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Pop 11,904
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Pop 11,070
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Pop 12,492
Places similar to Howard County
Head to head

Compare Howard County to nearby counties

HOWARD COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income$53,527+17%
Home value$117,600−24%
Population15,758+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Pike County
Income$49,269+8%
Home value$121,600−21%
Population9,964−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Little River County
Income$53,344+17%
Home value$113,500−26%
Population11,763−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Hempstead County
Income$46,787+3%
Home value$105,700−31%
Population19,080+55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard County, Arkansas?

Howard County, Arkansas has about 12,583 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Howard County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Howard County, Arkansas earns about $45,603 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Howard County, Arkansas expensive?

In Howard County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $153,900, and the typical rent is about $690 a month.

How educated are people in Howard County, Arkansas?

About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Howard County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Howard County, Arkansas?

About 22.5% of people in Howard County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Howard County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Howard County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 986 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9501
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 71852ZIP 71851ZIP 71833ZIP 71971ZIP 71831
Up the hierarchy
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Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Howard County, Arkansas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy