1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Garland County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $57,181. 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
- Garland County at a glance
- Employment and commuting in Garland County
- Income in Garland County compared with Arkansas
- Rent, home values and ownership in Garland County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Garland County
- A Garland County household budget, worked through
- More Garland County figures
- What the numbers mean for Garland County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Garland County residents
- Four steps for Garland County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Garland County at a glance
With an estimated 100,035 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Garland County ranks 8th of 75 in Arkansas for population. It covers 678 square miles of land, or about 148 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Hot Springs, AR metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (4 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Hot Springs, with about 37,920 residents, or 38% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Garland County
The biggest employer of Garland County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (13% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Garland County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Garland County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.4% | +5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -4.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Garland County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Garland County compared with Arkansas
Garland County households have a median income of $57,181 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 15th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Household income | Garland County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Garland County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 15.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Garland County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Garland County
A typical Garland County rental runs $966 a month including utilities, which is 2% above Arkansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. With a median value of $194,300, a typical Garland County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 69% of Garland County households own their home and 31% rent.
| Cost | Garland County | Arkansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $966/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,300 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 36 miles). Income ranges from $48,906 in Montgomery County to $79,046 in Saline County; 1 of these neighbors top Garland County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garland County | - | $57,181 | $966/mo | 69% |
| Hot Spring County, AR | 22 mi | $55,405 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Saline County, AR | 27 mi | $79,046 | $1,033/mo | 78% |
| Perry County, AR | 28 mi | $55,764 | $805/mo | 80% |
| Montgomery County, AR | 30 mi | $48,906 | $636/mo | 81% |
| Yell County, AR | 33 mi | $55,934 | $735/mo | 68% |
| Clark County, AR | 36 mi | $52,034 | $793/mo | 65% |
Places inside Garland County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Garland County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 66,580 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $75,370 at the median in Hot Springs Village, $47,760 in Hot Springs. Median rent ranges from $624 in Mountain Pine to $1,209 in Hot Springs Village. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | city | 37,920 | $47,760 | $914 | 8 mi |
| Hot Springs Village | CDP | 16,327 | $75,370 | $1,209 | 12 mi |
| Piney | CDP | 4,458 | $50,901 | $971 | 5 mi |
| Rockwell | CDP | 3,986 | $63,500 | $1,009 | 8 mi |
| Lake Hamilton | CDP | 2,127 | $73,696 | $1,129 | 11 mi |
| Mountain Pine | city | 555 | $49,013 | $624 | 2 mi |
| Fountain Lake | town | 548 | $60,093 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Pearcy | CDP | 363 | $30,278 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Lonsdale | town | 211 | $68,590 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Crystal Springs | CDP | 85 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A Garland County household budget, worked through
Here is the Garland County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,765 before taxes
- 20% goes to median rent ($966)
- $702: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,178 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Garland County figures
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Garland County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Garland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
What the numbers mean for Garland County borrowers
What the Garland County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 45% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who licenses lenders for Garland County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Garland County resident can confirm its license with the Arkansas State Bank Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Four steps for Garland County borrowers
Steps that save money for Garland County residents:
- 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.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Garland County household make?
About $57,181 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Arkansas median.
How does Garland County rent compare with Arkansas?
$966 locally versus $947 for the state, 2% above.
Which towns does the Garland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Piney, Rockwell, Lake Hamilton.
Will a Garland County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Garland 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.