1st Advantage MortgagePerry County households have a median income of $55,764 and median rent of $805 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Arkansas license first.
On this page
- Perry County at a glance
- Household income in Perry County
- Perry County housing compared with Arkansas
- Employment and commuting in Perry County
- Perry County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Perry County
- Room for a loan payment in Perry County
- Reading the Perry County data as a borrower
- People and households in Perry County
- Checklist for Perry County applicants
- Arkansas rules that apply in Perry County
- More guides for Perry County
- Frequently asked questions
Perry County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Perry County's population at 10,101; only 60 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 551 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.3 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 8 Census places inside Perry County, Perryville leads by population with about 1,390; 7 of the 8 are incorporated.
Household income in Perry County
At $55,764, the typical Perry County household income is 15% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 20 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Perry County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | +5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -3.2 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 14.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). A household earning below the $55,764 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Perry County housing compared with Arkansas
Renters in Perry County pay a median of $805 a month, 15% below the Arkansas figure of $947. By the Census definition, 27% of Perry County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,200, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Measure | Perry County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $805/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,200 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.7% | 11.0% | n/a |
Because most Perry 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.
Employment and commuting in Perry County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 16%. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward construction (16% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Perry County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 34% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 4.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Perry County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Construction | 16.5% | +9.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Public administration | 5.6% | +1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Perry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Perry County and the counties next door
Saline County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Faulkner County, is 36 miles off. Saline County leads the group on income ($79,046), Conway County trails ($54,187), and Perry County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | - | $55,764 | $805/mo | 80% |
| Saline County, AR | 25 mi | $79,046 | $1,033/mo | 78% |
| Conway County, AR | 26 mi | $54,187 | $755/mo | 74% |
| Yell County, AR | 27 mi | $55,934 | $735/mo | 68% |
| Garland County, AR | 28 mi | $57,181 | $966/mo | 69% |
| Pope County, AR | 36 mi | $57,344 | $859/mo | 70% |
| Faulkner County, AR | 36 mi | $67,289 | $1,005/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Perry County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Perry County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 3,013 people, so roughly 70% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perryville | city | 1,390 | $57,400 | $631 | 8 mi |
| Bigelow | town | 393 | $52,250 | $675 | 17 mi |
| Perry | town | 356 | $41,354 | $788 | 10 mi |
| Houston | town | 299 | $45,625 | $882 | 15 mi |
| Aplin | CDP | 287 | $66,875 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Casa | town | 206 | $73,889 | $646 | 9 mi |
| Adona | city | 62 | $62,750 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Fourche | town | 20 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Perry County
Perry County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Perry County: $4,647
- 17% goes to median rent ($805)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,054 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $805, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Perry County data as a borrower
Where the Perry County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 34% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Perry County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Perry County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Perry County
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Measure | Perry County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.0% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Perry County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 18.1% |
| 60+ min | 16.1% |
Checklist for Perry County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Arkansas rules that apply in Perry County
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
More guides for Perry County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Perry County household make?
About $55,764 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Arkansas median.
What do renters pay in Perry County?
$805 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Does this page cover Perryville?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Perry County, such as Bigelow, Perry, Houston.
Does living in Perry 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 Perry County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Perry 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.