1st Advantage MortgageThe median Izard County household earns $49,405, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Izard County
- Employment and commuting in Izard County
- What Izard County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Izard County
- Places inside Izard County
- The counties around Izard County
- What a median Izard County budget can carry
- People and households in Izard County
- Reading the Izard County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Izard County
- Four steps for Izard County borrowers
- More guides for Izard County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Izard County
Izard County is home to about 14,009 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 52nd most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. Spread over 580 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (7 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Melbourne, with about 2,263 residents, or 16% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Izard County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Izard County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 31% locally and 24% for Arkansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Izard County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.9% | +6.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Izard County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Izard County households earn
Half of Izard County households take in less than $49,405 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Arkansas median of $60,773. In the state ranking that is 44th of 75.
| Household income | Izard County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.8% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.5% | -9.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -4.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 14% of Izard County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. 22.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.442 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Izard 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Izard County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $621 in Izard County versus $947 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. Home values center on $129,100, or 2.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. Median construction year: 1984.
| Home costs | Izard County | Arkansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $621/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $129,100 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.4% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 14% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Izard County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Izard County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Izard County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 5,849 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $51,591 at the median in Oxford, $26,655 in Calico Rock. None of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | city | 2,263 | $39,469 | $601 | 3 mi |
| Calico Rock | city | 1,771 | $26,655 | $405 | 12 mi |
| Oxford | city | 820 | $51,591 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Mount Pleasant | town | 345 | $42,031 | $494 | 11 mi |
| Pineville | town | 306 | $38,906 | $883 | 12 mi |
| Franklin | town | 283 | $50,000 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Guion | town | 61 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mount Olive | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Violet Hill | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
The counties around Izard County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Izard County's, from 20 to 35 miles away. Income ranges from $40,943 in Stone County to $56,609 in Independence County; 2 of these neighbors top Izard County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Izard County | - | $49,405 | $621/mo | 75% |
| Fulton County, AR | 20 mi | $42,241 | $626/mo | 85% |
| Stone County, AR | 21 mi | $40,943 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Sharp County, AR | 25 mi | $44,637 | $766/mo | 79% |
| Baxter County, AR | 27 mi | $48,452 | $846/mo | 75% |
| Independence County, AR | 32 mi | $56,609 | $845/mo | 69% |
| Cleburne County, AR | 35 mi | $55,798 | $859/mo | 81% |
What a median Izard County budget can carry
How much room does a median Izard County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,117 a month: gross income for a household at the Izard County median
- Less median rent of $621, which is 15% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $1,482 total minus rent leaves $861
- Under a 43% cap, $1,770 total minus rent leaves $1,149
Two-income households and single earners in Izard County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Izard County
20% of Izard County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Izard County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.3% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Izard County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Reading the Izard County data as a borrower
Where the Izard County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 13% 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.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Lender oversight for Izard County
Consumer lenders serving Izard County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Arkansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Izard County borrowers
Steps that save money for Izard County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Izard County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Izard County a high-income county?
Its $49,405 median ranks 44th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Izard County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $621 against $947 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Izard County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Melbourne?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Izard County, such as Calico Rock, Oxford, Mount Pleasant.
Will a Izard County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.