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COUNTY

Phillips County

Arkansas · 14,255 residents (2025 est.) · 690.36 sq mi
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#11Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-14.0%
The short version

Phillips County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,134. Population has fallen 42% since 2000, a loss of 10,995 residents. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $78,200. The poverty rate of 29.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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

Total population
15,450
−42%since 2000
from 26,445 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
22 / sq mi
−30%since 2009
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.9
+24%since 2000
from 33.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,255 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K18K22K26K30K1990201020202024Phillips County
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.7%(1,033)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(1,028)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.3%(1,280)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(1,148)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(773)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.4%(1,446)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412%(1,860)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.2%(1,575)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(2,107)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.5%(1,925)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(1,011)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(264)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,134
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,231 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,343
+82%since 2000
from $12,288 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.0%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 32.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.491
+5%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$78,200
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$737
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $357 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
51.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 56.2% in 2000
48.8% rent
Vacancy rate
27.9%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−9%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
18
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Phillips County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic38.7%(10,245)
Black58.6%(15,495)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(382)
Asian0.3%(80)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic32.9%(5,082)
Black60.2%(9,306)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(320)
Asian1.1%(167)
Other3.7%(575)
Diversity Score
66
+8%since 2009
from 61 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−16%since 2020
from 34 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
Mexican1.3%(208)
Puerto Rican0.2%(36)
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(103)
Chinese0.4%(64)
Ancestry
English4.9%(757)
Irish4.2%(648)
American2.8%(431)
German2.5%(383)
Italian1.7%(265)
Swiss1%(154)
Scottish0.3%(43)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(31)
Dutch0.2%(26)
French0.1%(20)
Nigerian0.1%(12)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.1%(11)
British0.1%(9)
Greek0%(7)
Danish0%(6)
Arab0%(4)
Syrian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.8%
+18.6 ptssince 2000
from 62.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+30%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.6%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
17.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
14.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 17.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 56.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.8%
−34.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
53.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−37.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2012
from 23.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−75.2 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.3%
+23.4 ptssince 2017
from 55.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.8%(2,261)
Married39.4%(2,132)
Widowed6.3%(340)
Divorced12.6%(680)
Women 15+
Never married41.4%(2,774)
Married35.8%(2,394)
Widowed12.5%(840)
Divorced10.3%(688)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Phillips County to nearby counties

PHILLIPS COUNTY VS
Coahoma County
Income$37,461−7%
Home value$90,300+15%
Population19,849+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PHILLIPS COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$34,375−14%
Home value$75,300−4%
Population8,029−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PHILLIPS COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$43,214+8%
Home value$88,700+13%
Population6,244−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PHILLIPS COUNTY VS
Arkansas County
Income$53,164+32%
Home value$138,100+77%
Population15,836+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Phillips County, Arkansas?

Phillips County, Arkansas has about 15,450 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Phillips County, Arkansas earns about $40,134 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Phillips County, Arkansas expensive?

In Phillips County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $78,200, and the typical rent is about $737 a month.

How educated are people in Phillips County, Arkansas?

About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Phillips County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Phillips County, Arkansas?

About 29.3% of people in Phillips County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Phillips County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Phillips County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 13,388 residents, a change of about -46 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 4803Census Tract 4801Census Tract 4802.01Census Tract 4802.02Census Tract 4805Census Tract 4804Census Tract 4806
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 72390ZIP 72342ZIP 72366ZIP 72355ZIP 72374ZIP 72333ZIP 72389ZIP 72353ZIP 72383ZIP 72369ZIP 72367
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →