1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bradley County household earns $41,476, and 20% 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
- Bradley County by the numbers
- Income in Bradley County compared with Arkansas
- Employment and commuting in Bradley County
- Housing costs in Bradley County
- Bradley County towns compared
- How Bradley County compares with nearby counties
- People and households in Bradley County
- Reading the Bradley County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Bradley County median
- Before you sign
- Arkansas rules that apply in Bradley County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bradley County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bradley County's population at 10,208; only 58 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 649 square miles, that works out to roughly 15.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bradley County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Bradley County, Warren leads by population with about 5,353; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Income in Bradley County compared with Arkansas
At $41,476, the typical Bradley County household income is 37% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Bradley County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.4% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.4% | -5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.6% | -5.1 pts |
About 43% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. Census counts 19.9% of Bradley County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.515 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Bradley County
The biggest employer of Bradley County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.3% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Top industries | Bradley County share | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.4% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.6% | +6.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Bradley County
Renters in Bradley County pay a median of $689 a month, 27% below the Arkansas figure of $947. By the Census definition, 48% of Bradley County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $94,800, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Bradley County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $689/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,800 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.5% | 11.0% | n/a |
Bradley County towns compared
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Bradley County residents live in one of the 3. No Bradley County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | city | 5,353 | $36,788 | $704 | 12 mi |
| Hermitage | city | 327 | $23,047 | $399 | 1 mi |
| Banks | town | 126 | $56,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
How Bradley County compares with nearby counties
Calhoun County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ouachita County, is 42 miles off. Income ranges from $42,824 in Drew County to $66,809 in Calhoun County; all six of these neighbors top Bradley County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley County | - | $41,476 | $689/mo | 66% |
| Calhoun County, AR | 21 mi | $66,809 | $769/mo | 88% |
| Drew County, AR | 27 mi | $42,824 | $725/mo | 64% |
| Cleveland County, AR | 30 mi | $54,794 | $536/mo | 83% |
| Ashley County, AR | 30 mi | $44,266 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Union County, AR | 32 mi | $55,259 | $847/mo | 73% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 42 mi | $49,268 | $764/mo | 71% |
People and households in Bradley County
15% of Bradley County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Bradley County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.9% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bradley County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Reading the Bradley County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bradley County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Bradley County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Budget math at the Bradley County median
Bradley County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $3,456 a month: gross income for a household at the Bradley County median
- 20% goes to median rent ($689)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,210 total minus rent leaves $521
- At 45%, room after rent is $866 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Arkansas rules that apply in Bradley County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Bradley County resident can confirm its license with the Arkansas State Bank Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bradley County?
$41,476 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,773 for Arkansas. It ranks 69th of 75 in the state.
How does Bradley County rent compare with Arkansas?
$689 locally versus $947 for the state, 27% below.
I live in a small Bradley County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Warren, Hermitage, Banks.
Is the fit check different in Bradley County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bradley County residents?
The Arkansas State Bank Department licenses consumer lenders in Arkansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.