1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Little River County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $53,344. 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
- Getting oriented in Little River County
- Jobs and commutes in Little River County
- Household income in Little River County
- What it costs to live in Little River County
- The communities that make up Little River County
- Regional comparison for Little River County
- Budget math at the Little River County median
- Borrowing situations common in Little River County
- More Little River County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- A Little River County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Little River County
Little River County is home to about 11,821 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 57th most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. It covers 531 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Texarkana, TX-AR metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Ashdown, with about 4,164 residents, or 35% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Little River County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Little River County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 13% for Arkansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Little River County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.9% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.5% | +5.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -5.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -1.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Household income in Little River County
At $53,344, the typical Little River County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 33rd of 75.
| Yearly household income | Little River County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -2.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Little River County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 15.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. A household earning below the $53,344 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Little River County
A typical Little River County rental runs $697 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Arkansas. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $113,500, a typical Little River County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Housing | Little River County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $697/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,500 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.6% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 14% | n/a |
Because most Little River 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 communities that make up Little River County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Little River County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 6,222 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashdown | city | 4,164 | $55,625 | $683 | 7 mi |
| Foreman | city | 1,044 | $42,083 | $807 | 9 mi |
| Yarborough Landing | CDP | 380 | $43,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Wilton | city | 305 | $53,750 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Ogden | city | 140 | n/a | $922 | 14 mi |
| Alleene | CDP | 96 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Winthrop | city | 93 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Little River County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Little River County's, from 20 to 42 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Little River County; Bowie County is highest at $59,803 and Howard County lowest at $45,603. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma and Texas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Little River County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River County | - | $53,344 | $697/mo | 80% |
| Sevier County, AR | 20 mi | $53,527 | $751/mo | 68% |
| Bowie County, TX | 21 mi | $59,803 | $988/mo | 63% |
| Howard County, AR | 30 mi | $45,603 | $690/mo | 73% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 33 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Miller County, AR | 34 mi | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| McCurtain County, OK | 42 mi | $51,929 | $700/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Little River County median
Here is the Little River County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,445 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($697)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $859 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,303 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Little River County
Where the Little River County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Little River County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Little River County borrower sees (free reports).
More Little River County figures
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Little River County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Little River County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
A Little River County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Little River County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Little River County a high-income county?
Its $53,344 median ranks 33rd of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Little River County?
$697 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Little River County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Little River County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ashdown, Foreman, Yarborough Landing, Wilton, Ogden and 2 more.
Can Little River County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Arkansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.