1st Advantage MortgageThe median Desha County household earns $37,662, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Desha County
- Paychecks and income spread in Desha County
- Jobs and commutes in Desha County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Desha County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Desha County
- The counties around Desha County
- Desha County households compared
- Reading the Desha County data as a borrower
- A Desha County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Desha County
- Who licenses lenders for Desha County residents
- More guides for Desha County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Desha County
Roughly 10,786 residents live in Desha County, Arkansas, 58th by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 741 square miles, that works out to roughly 14.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Dumas is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,768 people (35% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Desha County
The median household income in Desha County is $37,662; statewide it is $60,773, so Desha County runs 38% below Arkansas as a whole. Only 73 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Desha County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.1% | +17.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.5% | -9.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -3.8 pts |
Some 46% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 14% have six-figure incomes. 28.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.486 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Desha 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.
Jobs and commutes in Desha County
The biggest employer of Desha County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 14% locally and 2% for Arkansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.0% in Desha County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Desha County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.5% | +12.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -4.4 pts |
| Public administration | 8.7% | +4.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Desha County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Desha County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $718 in Desha County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 46% of Desha County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $90,900, or 2.4 years of median income. 57% of Desha County households own their home and 43% rent. Median construction year: 1977.
| Measure | Desha County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $718/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $90,900 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.4% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 14% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Desha County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Desha County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 8,709 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dumas | city | 3,768 | $34,787 | $718 | 14 mi |
| McGehee | city | 3,666 | $36,875 | $784 | 16 mi |
| Arkansas City | city | 456 | $41,900 | $625 | 15 mi |
| Mitchellville | city | 320 | $40,313 | $756 | 16 mi |
| Watson | city | 214 | $30,139 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Reed | town | 156 | $31,125 | $720 | 15 mi |
| Tillar | city | 119 | $72,708 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Halley | CDP | 10 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
The counties around Desha County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Desha County's, from 21 to 40 miles away. Arkansas County leads the group on income ($53,164), Chicot County trails ($39,045), and Desha County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Desha County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desha County | - | $37,662 | $718/mo | 57% |
| Bolivar County, MS | 21 mi | $39,585 | $685/mo | 63% |
| Lincoln County, AR | 30 mi | $51,778 | $744/mo | 76% |
| Drew County, AR | 32 mi | $42,824 | $725/mo | 64% |
| Arkansas County, AR | 33 mi | $53,164 | $843/mo | 65% |
| Chicot County, AR | 39 mi | $39,045 | $574/mo | 69% |
| Sunflower County, MS | 40 mi | $39,956 | $694/mo | 55% |
Desha County households compared
Degree holders: 13% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Desha County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.6% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.1% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 28.3% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Reading the Desha County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Desha County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 28% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Desha County household budget, worked through
Here is the Desha County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,138 before taxes
- 23% goes to median rent ($718)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $632 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Steps before you apply in Desha County
Steps that save money for Desha County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Desha County-area credit union.
- Verify the Arkansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Desha County residents
Consumer lenders serving Desha County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Arkansas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Desha County
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Desha County earn?
The median is $37,662; 14% earn $100,000 or more and 46% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Desha County?
$718 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Does this page cover Dumas?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Desha County, such as McGehee, Arkansas City, Mitchellville.
Are Desha 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 Desha County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Arkansas it is the Arkansas State Bank Department.