1st Advantage MortgageThe median Boone County household earns $55,143, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Boone County
- Boone County income bands
- Labor force snapshot: Boone County
- Boone County's most unusual numbers
- Homes and rents, Boone County
- Census places in Boone County
- Boone County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income, Boone County edition
- Who lives in Boone County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Boone County
- Who licenses lenders for Boone County residents
- Checklist for Boone County applicants
- Beyond Boone County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Boone County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Boone County's population at 38,138; only 19 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Boone County spans 590 square miles; with 38,138 people, that is 64.7 per square mile. Metro status: none; Boone County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Harrison (13,350 people) heads the county's list of 12 Census places, 11 incorporated and 1 census-designated.
Boone County income bands
Boone County households have a median income of $55,143 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Band | Boone County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.6% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.8% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -2.6 pts |
On the low end, 29% of Boone County households report under $35,000; at the top, 23% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 11.7% of Boone County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. A household earning below the $55,143 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Labor force snapshot: Boone County
The biggest employer of Boone County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Boone County over-indexes on transportation, warehousing and utilities: 11% versus 6% in Arkansas. Unemployment in Boone County, ACS five-year: 2.5%; Arkansas: 4.9%. 46% of Boone County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 11% need 45 or more. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Boone County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.8% | +4.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | 0.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Boone County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Boone County's most unusual numbers
- Boone County ranks 2nd lowest of 75 Arkansas counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 2.5%, against 4.9% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- On the poverty rate, Boone County sits near the bottom of Arkansas at 11.7%, 5th lowest of 75. Even here, a fee-first loan offer is a scam.
- Few Arkansas counties match Boone County on the share of mobile homes: 8.4% here, 11.0% for the state, ranking 9th lowest of 75. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- On the share of workers who work from home, Boone County sits near the top of Arkansas at 10.0%, 9th highest of 75. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
Homes and rents, Boone County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $733 in Boone County versus $947 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 40% in Boone County, 45% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $188,900, about 3.4 times the median household income. 71% of Boone County households own their home and 29% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1985. Nationally, Boone County's $733 rent is 16% below the middle county.
| Housing | Boone County | Arkansas statewide | Boone County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | +5.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | -4.6 pts |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | +4.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 11.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $733/mo | $947/mo | 23% lower |
| Vacant units | 12% | 14% | -1.5 pts |
| Median home value | $188,900 | $188,000 | level |
Census places in Boone County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 44% of Boone County residents live in one of the 12. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $16,986, Bergman over Harrison. Rent is cheapest in Diamond City ($617) and steepest in Bergman ($950). Harrison and every other Boone County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | city | 13,350 | $44,056 | $753 | 5 mi |
| Diamond City | city | 672 | $45,966 | $617 | 14 mi |
| Bergman | town | 542 | $61,042 | $950 | 4 mi |
| Alpena | town | 510 | $50,625 | $775 | 13 mi |
| Bellefonte | town | 428 | $46,458 | $718 | 7 mi |
| Lead Hill | town | 320 | $55,000 | $889 | 12 mi |
| Batavia | CDP | 307 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Omaha | town | 174 | $30,833 | $667 | 12 mi |
| Valley Springs | town | 121 | n/a | $694 | 12 mi |
| Everton | town | 79 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| South Lead Hill | town | 69 | $58,750 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Zinc | town | 45 | n/a | $342 | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Boone County and the counties next door
Marion County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Stone County, is 37 miles off. Richest neighbor: Stone County, $63,520. Poorest: Searcy County, $44,426. Boone County: $55,143. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Boone County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | - | $55,143 | $733/mo | 71% |
| Marion County, AR | 22 mi | $48,619 | $795/mo | 81% |
| Taney County, MO | 24 mi | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Carroll County, AR | 26 mi | $54,230 | $856/mo | 77% |
| Newton County, AR | 28 mi | $48,986 | $617/mo | 77% |
| Searcy County, AR | 35 mi | $44,426 | $606/mo | 79% |
| Stone County, MO | 37 mi | $63,520 | $896/mo | 83% |
Debt-to-income, Boone County edition
Here is the Boone County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Boone County: $4,595
- 16% goes to median rent ($733)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $875 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,335 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Boone County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Boone County, in numbers
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17% of Boone County adults. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Boone County | Compared with Arkansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | +2.9 yrs | -0.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | -8.5 pts | -5.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | -3.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | -0.8 pts | +0.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | +1.0 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Work from home | 10.0% | +1.2 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | -4.3 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | -2.4 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Boone County
What the Boone County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Who licenses lenders for Boone County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Boone County, check the Arkansas State Bank Department. Nationally, Boone County residents can file with the CFPB.
Checklist for Boone County applicants
A short checklist for Boone County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Boone County credit union about member loans.
Beyond Boone County
Next step up from Boone County:
Frequently asked questions
Is $55,143 a good income in Boone County?
It is the county median, so half of Boone County households earn more and half less; 23% earn $100,000 or more.
What is the median rent in Boone County, AR?
$733 a month, utilities included, or $8,796 a year.
Does this page cover Harrison?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Boone County, such as Diamond City, Bergman, Alpena.
Are Boone County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Boone County?
Look it up with the Arkansas State Bank Department, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.