1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Miller County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $48,836. 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
- Miller County, AR: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Miller County
- Jobs and commutes in Miller County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Miller County
- Regional comparison for Miller County
- Miller County towns compared
- Who lives in Miller County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Miller County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Miller County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Miller County
- Four steps for Miller County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Miller County, AR: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Miller County's population at 42,360; only 16 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 624 square miles, that is close to 68 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Texarkana, TX-AR metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 4 Census places inside Miller County, Texarkana leads by population with about 29,177; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Miller County
Miller County households have a median income of $48,836 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Households earning | Miller County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.3% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -2.9 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 24.6%, 9 points higher than the state's 16.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.493 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Miller County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Miller County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Miller County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 10% locally and 6% for Arkansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.1% in Miller County. About 82% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Miller County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +2.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Miller County
A typical Miller County rental runs $892 a month including utilities, which is 6% below Arkansas. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $153,900, a typical Miller County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 64%. The median year built is 1983.
| Home costs | Miller County | Arkansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $892/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,900 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 14% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Miller County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Bowie County leads the group on income ($59,803), Lafayette County trails ($41,278), and Miller County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller County | - | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| Lafayette County, AR | 17 mi | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Cass County, TX | 30 mi | $53,813 | $852/mo | 77% |
| Bowie County, TX | 32 mi | $59,803 | $988/mo | 63% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 33 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Little River County, AR | 34 mi | $53,344 | $697/mo | 80% |
| Columbia County, AR | 39 mi | $55,334 | $649/mo | 71% |
Miller County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 74% of Miller County residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,600 in Fouke to $49,183 in Genoa. None of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texarkana | city | 29,177 | $45,835 | $909 | 10 mi |
| Genoa | CDP | 1,113 | $49,183 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Fouke | city | 859 | $41,600 | $772 | 3 mi |
| Garland | town | 188 | $31,250 | $525 | 11 mi |
Who lives in Miller County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.5%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Indicator | Miller County | All of Arkansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.9% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.6% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
What the numbers mean for Miller County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Miller County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Miller County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Miller County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Debt-to-income at Miller County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Miller County's medians:
- $48,836 a year is $4,070 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $892, takes 22% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $858 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Miller County
Consumer lenders serving Miller County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Four steps for Miller County borrowers
Quick steps for Miller County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Arkansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Miller County earn?
The median is $48,836; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Miller County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $892 a month; 52% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Miller County?
By population: Texarkana, Genoa, Fouke, Garland. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Will a Miller County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Miller County residents?
The Arkansas State Bank Department licenses consumer lenders in Arkansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.