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COUNTY

Prairie County

Arkansas · 7,923 residents (2025 est.) · 647.516 sq mi
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The short version

Prairie County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,646. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 1,475 residents. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $96,400. With a median age of 45.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% 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
8,064
−15%since 2000
from 9,539 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
12 / sq mi
−8%since 2009
from 14 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.7
+14%since 2000
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,923 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K9K9K10K1990201020202024Prairie County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(362)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(398)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(499)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(539)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.7%(463)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.8%(788)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(867)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(1,035)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415%(1,213)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(985)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.3%(585)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.1%(330)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,646
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,990 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,905
+94%since 2000
from $15,907 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.5%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
+9%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade11.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$96,400
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$625
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $336 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
24.2% rent
Vacancy rate
20.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−14%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Prairie County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.5%(8,060)
Black13.7%(1,304)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(77)
Asian0.2%(16)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.4%(6,728)
Black9.9%(796)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(192)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.3%(348)
Diversity Score
36
+3%since 2009
from 36 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
11
−28%since 2020
from 15 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
Mexican1.4%(116)
Panamanian0.4%(31)
Ancestry
Irish15.5%(1,246)
German12.5%(1,009)
English10.7%(859)
American5.8%(468)
Dutch4.3%(343)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(211)
Scottish1.2%(96)
Italian0.8%(65)
French0.7%(56)
Polish0.5%(44)
Swedish0.5%(42)
Slovak0.1%(12)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.1%(10)
Czech0.1%(8)
Norwegian0.1%(6)
British0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.4%
+19.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+24%since 2000
from 21.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
87.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 54.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.6%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 22.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−77.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
72.8%
+24.0 ptssince 2017
from 48.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.6%(886)
Married52%(1,732)
Widowed3.6%(119)
Divorced17.8%(591)
Women 15+
Never married17.5%(607)
Married50.7%(1,764)
Widowed15%(523)
Divorced16.8%(583)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Prairie County to nearby counties

PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Lonoke County
Income$72,828+41%
Home value$193,600+101%
Population76,664+868%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$43,214−16%
Home value$88,700−8%
Population6,244−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Woodruff County
Income$48,158−7%
Home value$106,500+10%
Population5,710−28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
White County
Income$55,249+7%
Home value$163,600+70%
Population80,085+911%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Prairie County, Arkansas?

Prairie County, Arkansas has about 8,064 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Prairie County, Arkansas earns about $51,646 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Prairie County, Arkansas expensive?

In Prairie County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $96,400, and the typical rent is about $625 a month.

How educated are people in Prairie County, Arkansas?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Prairie County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Prairie County, Arkansas?

About 11.8% of people in Prairie County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Prairie County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Prairie County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,454 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 4601Census Tract 4602Census Tract 4603
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 72064ZIP 72040ZIP 72041ZIP 72066ZIP 72017ZIP 72170
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →