1st Advantage MortgageCarroll County (28,626 residents) has a $54,230 median household income and $856 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. 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
- Getting oriented in Carroll County
- What it costs to live in Carroll County
- The $54,230 median and what sits around it
- Carroll County industries and commutes
- Carroll County against other Arkansas counties
- Counties near Carroll County
- Berryville and the rest of Carroll County
- Local borrowing considerations for Carroll County
- A Carroll County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Carroll County, in numbers
- Four steps for Carroll County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Carroll County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Carroll County
Roughly 28,626 residents live in Carroll County, Arkansas, 23rd by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Carroll County spans 630 square miles; with 28,626 people, that is 45.4 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Carroll County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Berryville is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 5,707 people (20% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Carroll County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $856 in Carroll County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Carroll County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $210,400, a typical Carroll County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Against the median U.S. county, Carroll County rent is 2% below.
| Carroll County | Arkansas | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 35% | 22% | +12.8 pts |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | +11.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | +3.2 pts |
| Median home value | $210,400 | $188,000 | 12% higher |
| Median gross rent | $856/mo | $947/mo | 10% lower |
Carroll County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
The $54,230 median and what sits around it
Half of Carroll County households take in less than $54,230 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Arkansas median of $60,773. That places it 29th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Household income | Carroll County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.2% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -2.1 pts |
33% under $35,000 and 25% at $100,000 or more: that is the Carroll County income split. 17.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Carroll County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Carroll County industries and commutes
Top Carroll County industry by residents employed: manufacturing, 21%; second, education and health care, 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 21% locally and 13% for Arkansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Carroll County. 44% of Carroll County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 14% need 45 or more. No car: 5.1% of Carroll County households.
| Top industries | Carroll County share | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.2% | +8.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 13.6% | -10.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Carroll County against other Arkansas counties
Ranked against the other 74 county-level areas in Arkansas, these are the Carroll County figures furthest from the middle.
- The uninsured rate: 14.2% in Carroll County. Only 1 of 75 Arkansas counties are higher. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- Carroll County ranks 6th highest of 75 Arkansas counties for the share of workers who work from home: 11.2%, against 8.8% statewide. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
- Median home value: $210,400 in Carroll County. Only 5 of 75 Arkansas counties are higher. High values mean many owners could borrow against equity; weigh that risk carefully.
Counties near Carroll County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Carroll County's, from 25 to 35 miles away. Income ranges from $48,986 in Newton County to $63,520 in Stone County; 5 of these neighbors top Carroll County's median. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | - | $54,230 | $856/mo | 77% |
| Madison County, AR | 25 mi | $56,798 | $729/mo | 80% |
| Boone County, AR | 26 mi | $55,143 | $733/mo | 71% |
| Stone County, MO | 29 mi | $63,520 | $896/mo | 83% |
| Barry County, MO | 30 mi | $58,346 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Newton County, AR | 35 mi | $48,986 | $617/mo | 77% |
| Taney County, MO | 35 mi | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
Berryville and the rest of Carroll County
Places, by size: the top 7 of 7. Roughly 50% of Carroll County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $14,966, Holiday Island over Eureka Springs. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berryville | city | 5,707 | $42,283 | $875 | 3 mi |
| Green Forest | city | 3,112 | $49,918 | $707 | 6 mi |
| Holiday Island | city | 2,480 | $53,391 | $932 | 15 mi |
| Eureka Springs | city | 2,433 | $38,425 | $887 | 12 mi |
| Oak Grove | town | 285 | $45,313 | $742 | 11 mi |
| Beaver | town | 121 | $58,250 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Blue Eye | town | 33 | $45,000 | n/a | 14 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Carroll County
Where the Carroll County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Carroll County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Rent at $856. With 48% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
A Carroll County household budget, worked through
Carroll County's $54,230 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $4,519 a month: gross income for a household at the Carroll County median
- Median rent: $856, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $1,943 total minus rent leaves $1,087
Homeowners in Carroll County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Who lives in Carroll County, in numbers
In Carroll County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (26% in Arkansas). 14.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Carroll County | Compared with Arkansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | +6.0 yrs | +3.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.0% | -5.8 pts | -2.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 14.2% | +5.2 pts | +6.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 15.2% | +3.9 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 11.2% | +2.4 pts | +2.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | +1.2 pts | +4.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | -0.7 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | -0.2 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Commute length | Carroll County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Four steps for Carroll County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carroll County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Carroll County
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Arkansas page has statewide figures to set beside Carroll County's.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Carroll County earn?
The median is $54,230; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Carroll County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $856 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Carroll County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Berryville, Green Forest, Holiday Island, Eureka Springs, Oak Grove and 2 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Carroll County or elsewhere in Arkansas, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Carroll 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.