1st Advantage MortgageIn Lawrence County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $44,882 a year and the typical rent is $697. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Arkansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Lawrence County by the numbers
- Household income in Lawrence County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
- Renting and owning in Lawrence County
- Lawrence County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Lawrence County
- A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
- Lawrence County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
- Steps before you apply in Lawrence County
- Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
- More guides for Lawrence County
- Frequently asked questions
Lawrence County by the numbers
Roughly 16,238 residents live in Lawrence County, Arkansas, 47th by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. It covers 588 square miles of land, or about 28 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lawrence County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (13 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Walnut Ridge, with about 5,434 residents, or 33% of the county.
Household income in Lawrence County
At $44,882, the typical Lawrence County household income is 32% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 58th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Lawrence County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.2% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | -2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Lawrence County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.1% of Lawrence County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.472 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
The biggest employer of Lawrence County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward construction (11% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lawrence County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Lawrence County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.9% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lawrence County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Lawrence County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $697 in Lawrence County versus $947 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,900, about 2.2 times the median household income. 67% of Lawrence County households own their home and 33% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Housing | Lawrence County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $697/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $98,900 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.2% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 14% | n/a |
Lawrence County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 21 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Craighead County leads the group on income ($59,548), Jackson County trails ($44,218), and Lawrence County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $44,882 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Randolph County, AR | 21 mi | $50,911 | $674/mo | 74% |
| Sharp County, AR | 23 mi | $44,637 | $766/mo | 79% |
| Craighead County, AR | 30 mi | $59,548 | $958/mo | 60% |
| Greene County, AR | 30 mi | $57,839 | $904/mo | 66% |
| Jackson County, AR | 31 mi | $44,218 | $668/mo | 65% |
| Independence County, AR | 33 mi | $56,609 | $845/mo | 69% |
Towns and communities in Lawrence County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Lawrence County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 11,608 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Black Rock has the highest median household income on the list ($52,019) and Imboden the lowest ($31,625), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Ridge | city | 5,434 | $45,027 | $739 | 9 mi |
| Hoxie | city | 2,618 | $35,268 | $722 | 7 mi |
| Black Rock | city | 853 | $52,019 | $855 | 5 mi |
| Imboden | town | 621 | $31,625 | $544 | 12 mi |
| Portia | town | 453 | $58,750 | $475 | 3 mi |
| Ravenden | town | 390 | $41,250 | $775 | 16 mi |
| Lynn | town | 299 | $48,889 | $691 | 9 mi |
| Strawberry | town | 285 | $43,189 | $775 | 13 mi |
| Powhatan | town | 173 | $63,409 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Sedgwick | town | 165 | $39,028 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Alicia | town | 138 | $23,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Minturn | town | 91 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Smithville | town | 88 | n/a | $1,042 | 12 mi |
A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lawrence County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $44,882 a year is $3,740 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($697)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $649 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $911 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lawrence County households compared
15% of Lawrence County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lawrence County | All of Arkansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.5% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.8% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
A few patterns in the Lawrence County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 11% of Lawrence County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Lawrence County borrower sees (free reports).
Steps before you apply in Lawrence County
A short checklist for Lawrence County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lawrence County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lawrence County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Lawrence County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lawrence County, check the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
More guides for Lawrence County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lawrence County earn?
The median is $44,882; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Lawrence County?
$697 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Lawrence County?
By population: Walnut Ridge, Hoxie, Black Rock, Imboden, Portia. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Does living in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lawrence County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.