1st Advantage MortgageDallas County households have a median income of $42,500 and median rent of $627 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Dallas County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 6,242 residents: Dallas County basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Dallas County
- Homes and rents, Dallas County
- Paychecks and income spread in Dallas County
- Where Dallas County differs from the rest of Arkansas
- Dallas County, Grant County and other neighbors
- Dallas County communities by population
- A Dallas County household budget, worked through
- Dallas County demographics against Arkansas
- Borrowing situations common in Dallas County
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Checklist for Dallas County applicants
- More guides for Dallas County
- Frequently asked questions
6,242 residents: Dallas County basics
Roughly 6,242 residents live in Dallas County, Arkansas, 72nd by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Dallas County spans 667 square miles; with 6,242 people, that is 9.4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Dallas County is not part of any metropolitan area. Fordyce is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 3,268 people (52% of the county total). Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 6,242, read each figure as a range.
Work, industries and travel time in Dallas County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Dallas County residents work in education and health care and 23% in manufacturing. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (23% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 2% work from home.
| Where residents work | Dallas County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.7% | +6.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +10.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.4% | -4.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.6% | -0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Homes and rents, Dallas County
A typical Dallas County rental runs $627 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Arkansas. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 40% in Dallas County, 45% statewide. Dallas County homes are worth $97,300 at the median, a 2.3-to-1 ratio to income. 73% of Dallas County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Home costs | Dallas County | Arkansas | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 73% | 66% | +6.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 17.0% | 11.0% | +6.0 pts |
| Median home value | $97,300 | $188,000 | 48% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | -4.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | -3.7 pts |
| Median gross rent | $627/mo | $947/mo | 34% lower |
Because most Dallas County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Paychecks and income spread in Dallas County
At $42,500, the typical Dallas County household income is 35% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 66 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Dallas County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.2% | +14.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.2% | -9.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.5% | -5.2 pts |
Some 43% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Dallas County: 13.9%; Arkansas: 16.0%. Gini index for Dallas County: 0.458. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Where Dallas County differs from the rest of Arkansas
Ranked against the other 74 county-level areas in Arkansas, these are the Dallas County figures furthest from the middle.
- The uninsured rate: 3.9% in Dallas County, the lowest of 75 in Arkansas. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
- Dallas County ranks 4th lowest of 75 Arkansas counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 11%, against 26% statewide. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
- Dallas County ranks 4th lowest of 75 Arkansas counties for the share of workers who work from home: 1.8%, against 8.8% statewide. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- Few Arkansas counties match Dallas County on population: 6,242 here, 3,049,391 for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 75. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
Dallas County, Grant County and other neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 30 miles). Grant County leads the group on income ($71,549), Ouachita County trails ($49,268), and Dallas County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | - | $42,500 | $627/mo | 73% |
| Grant County, AR | 26 mi | $71,549 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Cleveland County, AR | 27 mi | $54,794 | $536/mo | 83% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 29 mi | $49,268 | $764/mo | 71% |
| Hot Spring County, AR | 29 mi | $55,405 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Calhoun County, AR | 29 mi | $66,809 | $769/mo | 88% |
| Clark County, AR | 30 mi | $52,034 | $793/mo | 65% |
Dallas County communities by population
3,936 of Dallas County's 6,242 residents live in its 5 Census places (63%); the 5 largest are listed. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fordyce | city | 3,268 | $38,079 | $639 | 17 mi |
| Sparkman | city | 430 | $39,063 | $539 | 12 mi |
| Carthage | city | 185 | n/a | $475 | 9 mi |
| Ivan | CDP | 50 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Princeton | CDP | 3 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
A Dallas County household budget, worked through
Dallas County's $42,500 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $42,500 a year is $3,542 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $627, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $790 left for all other debt payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Dallas County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Dallas County demographics against Arkansas
11% of Dallas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 3.9% of Dallas County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Dallas County | Compared with Arkansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.3% | -14.4 pts | -10.8 pts |
| Work from home | 1.8% | -7.0 pts | -6.9 pts |
| Median age | 45.4 | +6.9 yrs | +3.9 yrs |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | -5.1 pts | -4.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.2% | +3.3 pts | +3.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | +2.8 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | -2.1 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | +1.7 pts | +2.2 pts |
| Minutes to work | Dallas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 8.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Dallas County
Dallas County-specific points to check:
- Car trouble. For Dallas County drivers (18% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Age 45.4 at the median. Many Dallas County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
Dallas County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Arkansas State Bank Department. Nationally, Dallas County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Arkansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Dallas County applicants
Steps that save money for Dallas County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Dallas County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Arkansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Dallas County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dallas County?
$42,500 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,773 for Arkansas. It ranks 67th of 75 in the state.
What do renters pay in Dallas County?
$627 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Can Dallas County owners borrow against a $97,300 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
What are the biggest places in Dallas County?
By population: Fordyce, Sparkman, Carthage, Ivan, Princeton. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Dallas County or elsewhere in Arkansas, the same rules apply.