1st Advantage MortgageClark County households have a median income of $52,034 and median rent of $793 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Clark County by the numbers
- Income in Clark County compared with Arkansas
- Clark County housing compared with Arkansas
- Jobs and commutes in Clark County
- Clark County towns compared
- Clark County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Clark County's medians
- Reading the Clark County data as a borrower
- More Clark County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- A Clark County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clark County by the numbers
Roughly 21,125 residents live in Clark County, Arkansas, 31st by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 866 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.4 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 9 Census places inside Clark County, Arkadelphia leads by population with about 10,099; 7 of the 9 are incorporated.
Income in Clark County compared with Arkansas
The median household income in Clark County is $52,034; statewide it is $60,773, so Clark County runs 14% below Arkansas as a whole. That places it 36th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Clark County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.3% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -1.8 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 21.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). For a borrower in Clark County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Clark County housing compared with Arkansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $793 in Clark County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Clark County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $155,000, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%. The median year built is 1985.
| Measure | Clark County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $155,000 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Clark County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Clark County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Sector | Clark County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.5% | -0.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Clark County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Clark County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $67,679 at the median in Caddo Valley, $38,542 in Amity. Median rent ranges from $646 in Amity to $814 in Arkadelphia. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadelphia | city | 10,099 | $48,657 | $814 | 8 mi |
| Gurdon | city | 1,625 | $47,587 | $698 | 10 mi |
| Caddo Valley | town | 775 | $67,679 | $760 | 10 mi |
| Amity | city | 740 | $38,542 | $646 | 22 mi |
| Okolona | town | 287 | $72,917 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Gum Springs | town | 55 | $48,333 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Whelen Springs | town | 52 | $55,893 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Alpine | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Beirne | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Clark County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 22 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $42,500 in Dallas County to $55,405 in Hot Spring County; 2 of these neighbors top Clark County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | - | $52,034 | $793/mo | 65% |
| Hot Spring County, AR | 22 mi | $55,405 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Nevada County, AR | 28 mi | $53,886 | $869/mo | 76% |
| Pike County, AR | 29 mi | $49,269 | $686/mo | 75% |
| Dallas County, AR | 30 mi | $42,500 | $627/mo | 73% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 36 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 36 mi | $49,268 | $764/mo | 71% |
Debt-to-income at Clark County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Clark County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Clark County: $4,336
- Median rent: $793, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $768 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,072 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Clark County's.
Reading the Clark County data as a borrower
What the Clark County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 15% 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 22% 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.
More Clark County figures
26% of Clark County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.3%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Clark County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.6% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Clark County resident can confirm its license with the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
A Clark County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Clark County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Clark County?
$52,034 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,773 for Arkansas. It ranks 36th of 75 in the state.
How much is rent in Clark County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $793 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Clark County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Arkadelphia, Gurdon, Caddo Valley, Amity, Okolona.
Are Clark 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.
Is there a Clark County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Arkansas it is the Arkansas State Bank Department.