1st Advantage MortgageIn Fulton County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $42,241 a year and the typical rent is $626. 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
- Population and place: Fulton County
- The Fulton County job picture
- Fulton County's most unusual numbers
- The Fulton County housing market in figures
- Fulton County income bands
- Counties near Fulton County
- Horseshoe Bend and the rest of Fulton County
- Fulton County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Fulton County
- A Fulton County household budget, worked through
- A Fulton County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Fulton County
Roughly 12,302 residents live in Fulton County, Arkansas, 56th by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 19.9 residents per square mile across 618 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Fulton County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Horseshoe Bend is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 2,555 people (21% of the county total).
The Fulton County job picture
The biggest employer of Fulton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Fulton County over-indexes on transportation, warehousing and utilities: 11% versus 6% in Arkansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Fulton County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.7% | +4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Other services | 6.5% | +1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Fulton County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Fulton County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Arkansas, and what each means for a borrower:
- Fulton County ranks 2nd highest of 75 Arkansas counties for homeownership: 85%, against 66% statewide. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- Fulton County ranks 8th lowest of 75 Arkansas counties for median household income: $42,241, against $60,773 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Median age: 47.6 in Fulton County. Only 9 of 75 Arkansas counties are higher. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
The Fulton County housing market in figures
$626 a month is the median gross rent in Fulton County, 34% below the state. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,800, about 2.7 times the median household income. In Fulton County, 85% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1986.
| Measure | Fulton County | Arkansas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 85% | 66% | +18.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 22% | +15.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 23.6% | 11.0% | +12.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 24% | 14% | +10.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 45% | +6.8 pts |
| Median home value | $113,800 | $188,000 | 39% lower |
| Median gross rent | $626/mo | $947/mo | 34% lower |
At a $113,800 median value, many Fulton County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Fulton County income bands
Half of Fulton County households take in less than $42,241 a year and half take in more, 30% below the Arkansas median of $60,773.
| Band | Fulton County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.6% | +11.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.2% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.5% | -5.2 pts |
About 41% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 18.0%, 2 points higher than the state's 16.0%. A household earning below the $42,241 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Counties near Fulton County
Izard County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ozark County, is 40 miles off. Income ranges from $43,069 in Oregon County to $50,993 in Howell County; all six of these neighbors top Fulton County's median. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | - | $42,241 | $626/mo | 85% |
| Izard County, AR | 20 mi | $49,405 | $621/mo | 75% |
| Sharp County, AR | 24 mi | $44,637 | $766/mo | 79% |
| Howell County, MO | 27 mi | $50,993 | $733/mo | 70% |
| Baxter County, AR | 29 mi | $48,452 | $846/mo | 75% |
| Oregon County, MO | 31 mi | $43,069 | $639/mo | 75% |
| Ozark County, MO | 40 mi | $44,163 | $631/mo | 82% |
Horseshoe Bend and the rest of Fulton County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Fulton County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 5,785 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Horseshoe Bend has the highest median household income on the list ($46,080) and Mammoth Spring the lowest ($32,863), counting places with at least 500 residents. Horseshoe Bend and every other Fulton County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Bend | city | 2,555 | $46,080 | $748 | 12 mi |
| Salem | city | 1,620 | $40,833 | $676 | 1 mi |
| Mammoth Spring | city | 1,226 | $32,863 | $404 | 17 mi |
| Viola | town | 384 | $41,250 | $733 | 9 mi |
Fulton County households compared
16% of Fulton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Uninsured, Fulton County: 6.6%; Arkansas: 9.0%.
| People and households | Fulton County | Compared with Arkansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | -9.8 pts | -6.2 pts |
| Median age | 47.6 | +9.1 yrs | +6.1 yrs |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | -2.4 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | +2.0 pts | +4.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -1.2 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Work from home | 8.3% | -0.5 pts | -0.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | +0.4 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | -0.3 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 13.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Fulton County
Fulton County-specific points to check:
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Fulton County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 24% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Age 47.6 at the median. Many Fulton County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
A Fulton County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fulton County's medians:
- $3,520 a month: gross income for a household at the Fulton County median
- Housing at the median rent of $626 uses 18%
- $888: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Fulton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Fulton County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fulton County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Fulton County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.
Related local guides
No city in Fulton County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Fulton County rank on income in Arkansas?
68th of 75, with a median of $42,241. The state median is $60,773.
What do renters pay in Fulton County?
$626 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Which towns does the Fulton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Horseshoe Bend, Salem, Mammoth Spring, Viola.
Can Fulton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Arkansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Fulton County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.