1st Advantage MortgageIn Cleburne County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $55,798 a year and the typical rent is $859. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Arkansas license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Cleburne County
- The Cleburne County job picture
- How much Cleburne County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cleburne County
- Towns and communities in Cleburne County
- The counties around Cleburne County
- What a median Cleburne County budget can carry
- Cleburne County households compared
- Before borrowing in Cleburne County
- Lender oversight for Cleburne County
- Checklist for Cleburne County applicants
- More guides for Cleburne County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Cleburne County
With an estimated 25,226 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cleburne County ranks 25th of 75 in Arkansas for population. Land area is 554 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 46 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cleburne County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Cleburne County, Heber Springs leads by population with about 7,161; 4 of the 8 are incorporated.
The Cleburne County job picture
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Manufacturing stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Cleburne County averages 6.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 82% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Cleburne County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.1% | -4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cleburne County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Cleburne County households make
At $55,798, the typical Cleburne County household income is 15% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 20th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Band | Cleburne County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -2.3 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. Census counts 13.9% of Cleburne County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.457 here. A household earning below the $55,798 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cleburne County
A typical Cleburne County rental runs $859 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Arkansas. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $179,800, or 3.2 years of median income. 81% of Cleburne County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Home costs | Cleburne County | Arkansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $859/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $179,800 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 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).
Towns and communities in Cleburne County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Cleburne County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 9,451 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. Greers Ferry has the highest median household income on the list ($57,235) and Heber Springs the lowest ($50,636), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Tumbling Shoals ($828) and steepest in Greers Ferry ($911). This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heber Springs | city | 7,161 | $50,636 | $847 | 7 mi |
| Greers Ferry | city | 778 | $57,235 | $911 | 9 mi |
| Tumbling Shoals | CDP | 689 | $53,512 | $828 | 4 mi |
| Drasco | CDP | 314 | $96,823 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Higden | town | 182 | $59,479 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Wilburn | CDP | 173 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Concord | town | 130 | $41,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Edgemont | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
The counties around Cleburne County
Distances run center to center, from Stone County at 20 miles out to Faulkner County at 36. Income ranges from $40,943 in Stone County to $67,289 in Faulkner County; 2 of these neighbors top Cleburne County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County | - | $55,798 | $859/mo | 81% |
| Stone County, AR | 20 mi | $40,943 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Independence County, AR | 27 mi | $56,609 | $845/mo | 69% |
| White County, AR | 27 mi | $55,249 | $850/mo | 69% |
| Van Buren County, AR | 29 mi | $50,354 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Izard County, AR | 35 mi | $49,405 | $621/mo | 75% |
| Faulkner County, AR | 36 mi | $67,289 | $1,005/mo | 62% |
What a median Cleburne County budget can carry
Here is the Cleburne County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $55,798 a year is $4,650 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($859)
- $1,140: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Cleburne County households compared
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Cleburne County | Arkansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cleburne County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
Before borrowing in Cleburne County
What the Cleburne County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Cleburne County's median age is 49.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for Cleburne County
Consumer lenders serving Cleburne County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is 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.
Checklist for Cleburne County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cleburne County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cleburne County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Cleburne County
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cleburne County household make?
About $55,798 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Arkansas median.
How much is rent in Cleburne County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $859 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Cleburne County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Cleburne County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Heber Springs, Greers Ferry, Tumbling Shoals, Drasco, Higden and 3 more.
Does living in Cleburne County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Cleburne County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.