1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Baxter County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $48,452. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Baxter County by the numbers
- What Baxter County households earn
- What it costs to live in Baxter County
- How Baxter County residents earn a living
- Places inside Baxter County
- Baxter County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Baxter County
- Borrowing situations common in Baxter County
- Budget math at the Baxter County median
- Lender oversight for Baxter County
- Steps before you apply in Baxter County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Baxter County by the numbers
Baxter County is home to about 42,407 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 16th most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. It covers 554 square miles of land, or about 77 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (7 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Mountain Home, with about 13,108 residents, or 31% of the county.
What Baxter County households earn
The median household income in Baxter County is $48,452; statewide it is $60,773, so Baxter County runs 20% below Arkansas as a whole. Only 51 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Baxter County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.8% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.9% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -3.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Baxter County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. 15.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.476 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Baxter County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Baxter County
A typical Baxter County rental runs $846 a month including utilities, which is 11% below Arkansas. By the Census definition, 51% of Baxter County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $174,600, a typical Baxter County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $846/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $174,600 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How Baxter County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 17%. Manufacturing stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Baxter County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Baxter County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.7% | +4.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.8% | -2.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Baxter County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 47% of Baxter County residents live in one of the 11. Lakeview has the highest median household income on the list ($66,786) and Midway the lowest ($30,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $675 in Lakeview to $1,035 in Midway. No Baxter County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home | city | 13,108 | $41,274 | $865 | 5 mi |
| Gassville | city | 1,850 | $38,750 | $739 | 9 mi |
| Midway | CDP | 1,279 | $30,750 | $1,035 | 11 mi |
| Cotter | city | 1,063 | $35,792 | $800 | 11 mi |
| Lakeview | city | 851 | $66,786 | $675 | 13 mi |
| Norfork | city | 690 | $32,167 | $694 | 6 mi |
| Salesville | city | 515 | $38,750 | $994 | 4 mi |
| Henderson | CDP | 415 | $43,767 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Briarcliff | city | 257 | $61,875 | $854 | 3 mi |
| Gamaliel | CDP | 15 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Buffalo City | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Baxter County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Marion County at 19 miles out to Searcy County at 33. Income ranges from $40,943 in Stone County to $49,405 in Izard County; 2 of these neighbors top Baxter County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Baxter County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter County | - | $48,452 | $846/mo | 75% |
| Marion County, AR | 19 mi | $48,619 | $795/mo | 81% |
| Ozark County, MO | 26 mi | $44,163 | $631/mo | 82% |
| Izard County, AR | 27 mi | $49,405 | $621/mo | 75% |
| Fulton County, AR | 29 mi | $42,241 | $626/mo | 85% |
| Stone County, AR | 31 mi | $40,943 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Searcy County, AR | 33 mi | $44,426 | $606/mo | 79% |
People and households in Baxter County
19% of Baxter County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Baxter County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Baxter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Baxter County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Baxter County borrowers.
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 51.4 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Budget math at the Baxter County median
How much room does a median Baxter County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,038 a month: gross income for a household at the Baxter County median
- Median rent: $846, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,413 total minus rent leaves $567
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $971 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $846, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Baxter County
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Baxter County
Steps that save money for Baxter County residents:
- Price the Baxter County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Baxter County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Ask a Baxter County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Baxter County earn?
The median is $48,452; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 35% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Baxter County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $846 against $947 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Baxter County?
By population: Mountain Home, Gassville, Midway, Cotter, Lakeview. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Baxter County or elsewhere in Arkansas, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Baxter County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.