1st Advantage MortgageIn Monroe County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $43,214 a year and the typical rent is $614. 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 Monroe County
- Income in Monroe County compared with Arkansas
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
- The communities that make up Monroe County
- Monroe County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Monroe County median
- Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
- Monroe County households compared
- A Monroe County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Monroe County
Monroe County is home to about 6,589 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 71st most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. Spread over 607 square miles, that works out to roughly 10.8 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Monroe County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Brinkley, with about 2,596 residents, or 39% of the county. With so few households sampled, Monroe County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Monroe County compared with Arkansas
At $43,214, the typical Monroe County household income is 34% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 64th among Arkansas's 75 county-level areas.
| Household income | Monroe County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.9% | +12.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | -1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.9% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -4.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Monroe County households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. 20.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.480 here. None of these numbers decides a Monroe County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (23% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 9.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 87% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 14.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Monroe County share | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.6% | +9.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.8% | -9.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.2% | +4.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $614 in Monroe County versus $947 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. With a median value of $88,700, a typical Monroe County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 63% of homes. Median construction year: 1976.
| Measure | Monroe County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $614/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $88,700 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 11% | 22% | n/a |
The communities that make up Monroe County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Monroe County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Monroe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkley | city | 2,596 | $38,996 | $608 | 15 mi |
| Clarendon | city | 1,820 | $33,818 | $614 | 6 mi |
| Holly Grove | city | 495 | $36,333 | $485 | 5 mi |
| Roe | town | 129 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Fargo | town | 30 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Monroe | CDP | 11 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Indian Bay | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
Monroe County next to its neighbors
Prairie County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Woodruff County, is 36 miles off. Income ranges from $34,375 in Lee County to $53,164 in Arkansas County; 3 of these neighbors top Monroe County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $43,214 | $614/mo | 63% |
| Prairie County, AR | 22 mi | $51,646 | $625/mo | 76% |
| Lee County, AR | 25 mi | $34,375 | $667/mo | 59% |
| Phillips County, AR | 27 mi | $40,134 | $737/mo | 51% |
| Arkansas County, AR | 29 mi | $53,164 | $843/mo | 65% |
| St. Francis County, AR | 35 mi | $42,574 | $779/mo | 55% |
| Woodruff County, AR | 36 mi | $48,158 | $613/mo | 65% |
Budget math at the Monroe County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Monroe County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $3,601 gross per month ($43,214 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $614 uses 17%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $826 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Monroe County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.5, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Monroe County loan.
Monroe County households compared
13% of Monroe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Monroe County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.7% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Monroe County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.7% |
A Monroe County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Monroe County:
- Price the Monroe County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Monroe County-area credit union.
- A Arkansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Related local guides
The Arkansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Monroe County earn?
The median is $43,214; 18% earn $100,000 or more and 41% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Monroe County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $614 against $947 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Monroe County?
By population: Brinkley, Clarendon, Holly Grove, Roe, Fargo. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does living in Monroe 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 Monroe County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Monroe County check a lender's license?
With the Arkansas State Bank Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.