1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Conway County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,187. 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
- A quick profile of Conway County
- Renting and owning in Conway County
- How much Conway County households make
- The Conway County job picture
- The counties around Conway County
- The communities that make up Conway County
- A Conway County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Conway County
- Before borrowing in Conway County
- Steps before you apply in Conway County
- Who licenses lenders for Conway County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Conway County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Conway County's population at 21,054; only 31 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. It covers 552 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Conway 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 Conway County, Morrilton leads by population with about 7,080; 4 of the 8 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Conway County
A typical Conway County rental runs $755 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Arkansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,100, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median year built is 1984.
| Conway County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $755/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,100 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.4% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 14% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Conway County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Conway County households make
Conway County households have a median income of $54,187 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 30th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Income band | Share in Conway County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -4.2 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. Census counts 19.7% of Conway County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Conway County median.
The Conway County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Conway County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Conway County averages 6.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 80% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Conway County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.5% | +7.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.3 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.
The counties around Conway County
Distances run center to center, from Faulkner County at 22 miles out to Saline County at 43. Saline County leads the group on income ($79,046), Van Buren County trails ($50,354), and Conway County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway County | - | $54,187 | $755/mo | 74% |
| Faulkner County, AR | 22 mi | $67,289 | $1,005/mo | 62% |
| Pope County, AR | 23 mi | $57,344 | $859/mo | 70% |
| Van Buren County, AR | 24 mi | $50,354 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Perry County, AR | 26 mi | $55,764 | $805/mo | 80% |
| Pulaski County, AR | 40 mi | $62,873 | $1,080/mo | 57% |
| Saline County, AR | 43 mi | $79,046 | $1,033/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Conway County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Conway County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,552 in Plumerville to $65,521 in Oppelo. No Conway County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morrilton | city | 7,080 | $47,572 | $717 | 8 mi |
| Plumerville | city | 1,128 | $42,552 | $719 | 8 mi |
| Oppelo | city | 1,118 | $65,521 | $787 | 12 mi |
| Springfield | CDP | 438 | $73,918 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Menifee | town | 409 | $64,315 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Center Ridge | CDP | 211 | $36,563 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Jerusalem | CDP | 57 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Hattieville | CDP | 41 | $56,146 | n/a | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Conway County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Conway County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,516 a month: gross income for a household at the Conway County median
- Housing at the median rent of $755 uses 17%
- Under a 35% cap, $1,580 total minus rent leaves $825
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,277 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Conway County's.
People and households in Conway County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Conway County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Conway County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Before borrowing in Conway County
Where the Conway County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Conway County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Conway County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Steps before you apply in Conway County
Quick steps for Conway County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Conway County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Conway County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Conway County, check the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Arkansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Conway County?
$54,187 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,773 for Arkansas. It ranks 30th of 75 in the state.
How much is rent in Conway County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $755 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Morrilton?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Conway County, such as Plumerville, Oppelo, Springfield.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Conway County or elsewhere in Arkansas, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Conway 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.