1st Advantage MortgageIn Hempstead County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $46,787 a year and the typical rent is $815. 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
- A quick profile of Hempstead County
- Income in Hempstead County compared with Arkansas
- Jobs and commutes in Hempstead County
- Housing costs in Hempstead County
- Regional comparison for Hempstead County
- Places inside Hempstead County
- Room for a loan payment in Hempstead County
- Before borrowing in Hempstead County
- More Hempstead County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Hempstead County
- Steps before you apply in Hempstead County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hempstead County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hempstead County's population at 19,508; only 33 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 727 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 27 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 11 Census places inside Hempstead County, Hope leads by population with about 8,671; 10 of the 11 are incorporated.
Income in Hempstead County compared with Arkansas
Hempstead County households have a median income of $46,787 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Band | Hempstead County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.2% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.8% | -7.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -3.2 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 17% clear $100,000. 20.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). A household earning below the $46,787 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Hempstead County
The biggest employer of Hempstead County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 25% of workers, followed by education and health care (24%). Manufacturing stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Hempstead County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.4% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Hempstead County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.5% | +11.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.4% | -4.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +3.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hempstead County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Hempstead County
Renters in Hempstead County pay a median of $815 a month, 14% below the Arkansas figure of $947. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62% of renter households here. Home values center on $105,700, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Hempstead County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $815/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,700 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 62% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Hempstead County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hempstead County's, from 21 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $41,278 in Lafayette County to $53,886 in Nevada County; 4 of these neighbors top Hempstead County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead County | - | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Nevada County, AR | 21 mi | $53,886 | $869/mo | 76% |
| Pike County, AR | 29 mi | $49,269 | $686/mo | 75% |
| Howard County, AR | 30 mi | $45,603 | $690/mo | 73% |
| Miller County, AR | 33 mi | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| Little River County, AR | 33 mi | $53,344 | $697/mo | 80% |
| Lafayette County, AR | 34 mi | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
Places inside Hempstead County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Hempstead County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 9,623 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope | city | 8,671 | $37,500 | $823 | 6 mi |
| Perrytown | town | 251 | $56,250 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Fulton | town | 189 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Blevins | city | 167 | $50,972 | $763 | 11 mi |
| Washington | city | 93 | $38,421 | $692 | 3 mi |
| McNab | town | 73 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| McCaskill | town | 46 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ozan | town | 43 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Patmos | town | 38 | $40,417 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Oakhaven | town | 34 | $61,250 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Saratoga | CDP | 18 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Hempstead County
Here is the Hempstead County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $3,899 a month: gross income for a household at the Hempstead County median
- 21% goes to median rent ($815)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $550 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $940 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Hempstead County
What the Hempstead County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Hempstead 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 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Hempstead County loan.
- 62% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Hempstead County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Hempstead County | Arkansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Hempstead County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hempstead County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Hempstead County
Quick steps for Hempstead County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hempstead County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Hempstead County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hempstead County household make?
About $46,787 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Arkansas median.
How does Hempstead County rent compare with Arkansas?
$815 locally versus $947 for the state, 14% below.
I own my home in Hempstead County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Hempstead County?
By population: Hope, Perrytown, Fulton, Blevins, Washington. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Will a Hempstead County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.