1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Drew County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $42,824. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Drew County, AR: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Drew County
- What Drew County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Drew County
- The counties around Drew County
- The communities that make up Drew County
- What a median Drew County budget can carry
- Reading the Drew County data as a borrower
- Drew County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Drew County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Drew County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Drew County, AR: the basics
Roughly 17,046 residents live in Drew County, Arkansas, 43rd by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 829 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 21 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (3 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Monticello, with about 8,257 residents, or 48% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Drew County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Drew County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 24% for Arkansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Drew County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 83% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.2% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Top industries | Drew County share | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.6% | +5.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -5.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +2.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Drew County households earn
The median household income in Drew County is $42,824; statewide it is $60,773, so Drew County runs 30% below Arkansas as a whole.
| Households earning | Drew County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.3% | +15.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.2% | -5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.3% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -2.5 pts |
About 44% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. Census counts 22.4% of Drew County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Drew County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $725 in Drew County versus $947 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $140,800, about 3.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 64% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Drew County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $725/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $140,800 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.1% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 14% | n/a |
The counties around Drew County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Drew County's, from 26 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $37,662 in Desha County to $54,794 in Cleveland County; 3 of these neighbors top Drew County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew County | - | $42,824 | $725/mo | 64% |
| Lincoln County, AR | 26 mi | $51,778 | $744/mo | 76% |
| Bradley County, AR | 27 mi | $41,476 | $689/mo | 66% |
| Ashley County, AR | 28 mi | $44,266 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Desha County, AR | 32 mi | $37,662 | $718/mo | 57% |
| Chicot County, AR | 33 mi | $39,045 | $574/mo | 69% |
| Cleveland County, AR | 34 mi | $54,794 | $536/mo | 83% |
The communities that make up Drew County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Drew County residents live in one of the 6. Lacey has the highest median household income on the list ($63,099) and Wilmar the lowest ($22,434), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | city | 8,257 | $27,238 | $707 | 5 mi |
| Lacey | CDP | 746 | $63,099 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wilmar | city | 523 | $22,434 | $888 | 12 mi |
| Winchester | town | 122 | $43,333 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Collins | CDP | 60 | $42,500 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Jerome | CDP | 50 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Drew County budget can carry
How much room does a median Drew County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Drew County: $3,569
- 20% goes to median rent ($725)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $560 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $725, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Drew County data as a borrower
Based on the Drew County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 23% of Drew County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Drew County loan.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Drew County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.3%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Residents | Drew County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.6% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Drew County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Checklist for Drew County applicants
A short checklist for Drew County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Drew County
Consumer lenders serving Drew County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Drew County a high-income county?
Its $42,824 median ranks 65th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Drew County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $725 against $947 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Drew County?
By population: Monticello, Lacey, Wilmar, Winchester, Collins. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Does living in Drew 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 Drew County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Drew County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.