1st Advantage MortgageThe median Howard County household earns $45,603, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Arkansas license first.
On this page
- Howard County by the numbers
- How much Howard County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Howard County
- Renting and owning in Howard County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Howard County
- Counties near Howard County
- Room for a loan payment in Howard County
- What the numbers mean for Howard County borrowers
- People and households in Howard County
- Who licenses lenders for Howard County residents
- Checklist for Howard County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Howard County by the numbers
Howard County is home to about 12,583 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 54th most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. It covers 587 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Howard County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Nashville, with about 4,063 residents, or 32% of the county.
How much Howard County households make
At $45,603, the typical Howard County household income is 31% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 57th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Household income | Howard County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.9% | +10.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.3% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -3.6 pts |
Some 40% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 22.5%, 7 points higher than the state's 16.0%. For a borrower in Howard 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Howard County
Manufacturing employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (30% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Howard County. About 80% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Howard County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 30.0% | +17.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -3.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.7% | +5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.5% | -5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.2% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Howard County
Renters in Howard County pay a median of $690 a month, 27% below the Arkansas figure of $947. 53% 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 $153,900, about 3.4 times the median household income. 73% of Howard County households own their home and 27% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Home costs | Howard County | Arkansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $690/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,900 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.2% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 14% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Howard County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 51% of Howard County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $22,188 in Dierks to $52,031 in Mineral Springs. Median rent ranges from $479 in Dierks to $832 in Mineral Springs. Live in one of these Howard County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | city | 4,063 | $41,142 | $690 | 13 mi |
| Mineral Springs | city | 1,358 | $52,031 | $832 | 15 mi |
| Dierks | city | 728 | $22,188 | $479 | 3 mi |
| Tollette | town | 204 | $44,167 | $670 | 19 mi |
| Center Point | CDP | 96 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Howard County
Distances run center to center, from Sevier County at 16 miles out to Montgomery County at 37. Income ranges from $46,787 in Hempstead County to $53,527 in Sevier County; all six of these neighbors top Howard County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | - | $45,603 | $690/mo | 73% |
| Sevier County, AR | 16 mi | $53,527 | $751/mo | 68% |
| Pike County, AR | 20 mi | $49,269 | $686/mo | 75% |
| Little River County, AR | 30 mi | $53,344 | $697/mo | 80% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 30 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Polk County, AR | 31 mi | $49,191 | $711/mo | 79% |
| Montgomery County, AR | 37 mi | $48,906 | $636/mo | 81% |
Room for a loan payment in Howard County
How much room does a median Howard County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,800 gross per month ($45,603 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $690 uses 18%
- $678: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Howard County borrowers
A few patterns in the Howard County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Howard County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
People and households in Howard County
16% of Howard County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Howard County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Howard County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Who licenses lenders for Howard County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Howard County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Checklist for Howard County applicants
A short checklist for Howard County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Howard County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Howard County?
$45,603 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,773 for Arkansas. It ranks 57th of 75 in the state.
How much is rent in Howard County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $690 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Howard County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Howard County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Nashville, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Tollette, Center Point.
Are Howard 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.