1st Advantage MortgageIn Lafayette County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $41,278 a year and the typical rent is $755. 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
- Lafayette County by the numbers
- What Lafayette County households earn
- Housing costs in Lafayette County
- The Lafayette County job picture
- Lafayette County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Lafayette County
- Lafayette County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Lafayette County
- What a median Lafayette County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Four steps for Lafayette County borrowers
- More guides for Lafayette County
- Frequently asked questions
Lafayette County by the numbers
With an estimated 6,136 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lafayette County ranks 73rd of 75 in Arkansas for population. Land area is 529 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lafayette County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Stamps is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,404 people (23% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Lafayette County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Lafayette County households earn
At $41,278, the typical Lafayette County household income is 37% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Lafayette County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.1% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.5% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.5% | -5.2 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 14% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 22.3%, 6 points higher than the state's 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 Lafayette County median.
Housing costs in Lafayette County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $755 in Lafayette County versus $947 statewide. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $81,000, about 2.0 times the median household income. 79% of Lafayette County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Lafayette County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $755/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $81,000 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 27.7% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 14% | n/a |
Because most Lafayette County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Lafayette County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Lafayette County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 14% locally and 2% for Arkansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Lafayette County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 83% drive to work alone and 27% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Lafayette County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.1% | +4.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.8% | +11.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +2.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Lafayette County towns compared
4 Census places fall mainly inside Lafayette County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 3,119 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $24,688 in Lewisville to $37,297 in Stamps. Rent is cheapest in Bradley ($414) and steepest in Lewisville ($809). Live in one of these Lafayette County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamps | city | 1,404 | $37,297 | $762 | 10 mi |
| Lewisville | city | 903 | $24,688 | $809 | 8 mi |
| Bradley | city | 528 | $30,907 | $414 | 10 mi |
| Buckner | city | 284 | $95,729 | n/a | 13 mi |
Regional comparison for Lafayette County
Miller County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Webster Parish, is 38 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Lafayette County; Bossier Parish is highest at $69,617 and Webster Parish lowest at $41,182. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County | - | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Miller County, AR | 17 mi | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| Columbia County, AR | 22 mi | $55,334 | $649/mo | 71% |
| Nevada County, AR | 34 mi | $53,886 | $869/mo | 76% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 34 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Bossier Parish, LA | 37 mi | $69,617 | $1,174/mo | 65% |
| Webster Parish, LA | 38 mi | $41,182 | $795/mo | 67% |
Lafayette County households compared
Degree holders: 9% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Lafayette County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 9.0% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.5% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.3% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lafayette County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Lafayette County
Based on the Lafayette County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 27% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lafayette County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 28% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 49.0 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 22% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
What a median Lafayette County budget can carry
Lafayette County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $41,278 a year is $3,440 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $755, takes 22% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $483 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $755, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Four steps for Lafayette County borrowers
Quick steps for Lafayette County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Lafayette County
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lafayette County a high-income county?
Its $41,278 median ranks 70th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Lafayette County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $755 against $947 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Lafayette County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Lafayette County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Stamps, Lewisville, Bradley, Buckner.
Does living in Lafayette County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Lafayette County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.