1st Advantage MortgageThe median Columbia County household earns $55,334, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Columbia County, AR: the basics
- How much Columbia County households make
- Columbia County housing compared with Arkansas
- Jobs and commutes in Columbia County
- Places inside Columbia County
- Columbia County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Columbia County median
- Borrowing situations common in Columbia County
- People and households in Columbia County
- Checklist for Columbia County applicants
- Lender oversight for Columbia County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Columbia County, AR: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Columbia County's population at 22,349; only 27 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 766 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 29 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Columbia County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Magnolia, with about 10,894 residents, or 49% of the county.
How much Columbia County households make
Half of Columbia County households take in less than $55,334 a year and half take in more, 9% below the Arkansas median of $60,773. That places it 24th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Band | Columbia County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.8% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Columbia County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. 21.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). For a borrower in Columbia 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.
Columbia County housing compared with Arkansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $649 in Columbia County versus $947 statewide. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $152,100, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Median construction year: 1981.
| Measure | Columbia County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $649/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,100 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Columbia County
The biggest employer of Columbia County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 33% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 33% locally and 24% for Arkansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Columbia County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 81% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Columbia County share | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.0% | +9.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -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.
Places inside Columbia County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 59% of Columbia County residents live in one of the 5. Incomes vary by place: $64,659 at the median in Taylor, $40,500 in Waldo. No Columbia County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia | city | 10,894 | $56,127 | $633 | 4 mi |
| Waldo | city | 1,144 | $40,500 | $539 | 10 mi |
| Taylor | city | 593 | $64,659 | $1,013 | 16 mi |
| McNeil | city | 419 | $37,895 | $433 | 9 mi |
| Emerson | town | 239 | $55,938 | $781 | 9 mi |
Columbia County next to its neighbors
Lafayette County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Union County, is 37 miles off. Income ranges from $32,831 in Claiborne Parish to $55,259 in Union County; none of these neighbors top Columbia County's median. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | - | $55,334 | $649/mo | 71% |
| Lafayette County, AR | 22 mi | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Claiborne Parish, LA | 31 mi | $32,831 | $674/mo | 69% |
| Nevada County, AR | 31 mi | $53,886 | $869/mo | 76% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 33 mi | $49,268 | $764/mo | 71% |
| Webster Parish, LA | 34 mi | $41,182 | $795/mo | 67% |
| Union County, AR | 37 mi | $55,259 | $847/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Columbia County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Columbia County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,611 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($649)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $965 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,426 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Columbia County
Where the Columbia County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 17% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Columbia County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
People and households in Columbia County
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Columbia County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.9% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Checklist for Columbia County applicants
A short checklist for Columbia County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Columbia County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Columbia County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Columbia County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Columbia County earn?
The median is $55,334; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 36% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Columbia County rent compare with Arkansas?
$649 locally versus $947 for the state, 31% below.
Does this page cover Magnolia?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Columbia County, such as Waldo, Taylor, McNeil.
Will a Columbia County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Columbia County check a lender's license?
With the Arkansas State Bank Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.