1st Advantage MortgageNevada County households have a median income of $53,886 and median rent of $869 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Nevada County at a glance
- What Nevada County households earn
- How Nevada County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Nevada County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Nevada County
- Room for a loan payment in Nevada County
- Before borrowing in Nevada County
- Nevada County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Nevada County
- Checklist for Nevada County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Nevada County at a glance
Roughly 8,159 residents live in Nevada County, Arkansas, 66th by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. It covers 618 square miles of land, or about 13 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Nevada County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (7 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Prescott, with about 3,032 residents, or 37% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Nevada County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Nevada County households earn
Nevada County households have a median income of $53,886 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 75 in Arkansas.
| Yearly household income | Nevada County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 56.7% | +13.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.0% | -10.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -4.5 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 13% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 20.3%, 4 points higher than the state's 16.0%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Nevada County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 19%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.6% in Nevada County. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Nevada County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 18.8% | +10.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.4% | -6.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 5.1% | +0.2 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.
Renting and owning in Nevada County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $869 in Nevada County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 73% of Nevada County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $83,300, about 1.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Home costs | Nevada County | Arkansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $869/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $83,300 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 73% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 14% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Nevada County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 21 to 40 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $41,278 in Lafayette County to $55,334 in Columbia County; 1 of these neighbors top Nevada County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada County | - | $53,886 | $869/mo | 76% |
| Hempstead County, AR | 21 mi | $46,787 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 25 mi | $49,268 | $764/mo | 71% |
| Clark County, AR | 28 mi | $52,034 | $793/mo | 65% |
| Columbia County, AR | 31 mi | $55,334 | $649/mo | 71% |
| Lafayette County, AR | 34 mi | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Pike County, AR | 40 mi | $49,269 | $686/mo | 75% |
Places inside Nevada County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Nevada County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 4,632 residents, leaving about 43% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott | city | 3,032 | $48,307 | $887 | 11 mi |
| Emmet | city | 435 | $56,016 | $633 | 10 mi |
| Rosston | town | 391 | $72,097 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Willisville | town | 246 | $52,328 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bluff City | town | 222 | $59,688 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bodcaw | town | 177 | $70,625 | $833 | 9 mi |
| Cale | town | 86 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Reader | CDP | 43 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Nevada County
Here is the Nevada County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Nevada County: $4,490
- Housing at the median rent of $869 uses 19%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,617 total minus rent leaves $748
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Nevada County's.
Before borrowing in Nevada County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Nevada County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 29% 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. 20% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 73% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Nevada County households compared
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Nevada County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.8% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Nevada County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Nevada County, check the Arkansas State Bank Department. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Checklist for Nevada County applicants
Steps that save money for Nevada 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.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nevada County a high-income county?
Its $53,886 median ranks 31st of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Nevada County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $869 a month; 73% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Nevada County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Nevada County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Nevada County?
By population: Prescott, Emmet, Rosston, Willisville, Bluff City. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Will a Nevada County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.