1st Advantage MortgageIn Phillips County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $40,134 a year and the typical rent is $737. 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
- Phillips County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Phillips County
- How Phillips County residents earn a living
- Phillips County housing compared with Arkansas
- The counties around Phillips County
- Towns and communities in Phillips County
- Who lives in Phillips County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Phillips County
- A Phillips County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Phillips County applicants
- Arkansas rules that apply in Phillips County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Phillips County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Phillips County's population at 15,450; only 49 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. It covers 690 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Helena-West Helena is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 8,935 people (58% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Phillips County
Half of Phillips County households take in less than $40,134 a year and half take in more, 34% below the Arkansas median of $60,773. Only 71 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Phillips County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.7% | +16.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.7% | -8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Phillips County households make $100,000 or more, and 46% make less than $35,000. 29.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.491 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Phillips County median.
How Phillips County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Phillips County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 14.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Phillips County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +1.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Phillips County housing compared with Arkansas
A typical Phillips County rental runs $737 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Arkansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 59% of renter households here. With a median value of $78,200, a typical Phillips County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 51%.
| Housing | Phillips County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $737/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $78,200 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 51% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
With renters making up 49% of households, many Phillips County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The counties around Phillips County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 34 miles). Arkansas County leads the group on income ($53,164), Quitman County trails ($32,412), and Phillips County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Phillips County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips County | - | $40,134 | $737/mo | 51% |
| Coahoma County, MS | 20 mi | $37,461 | $749/mo | 52% |
| Lee County, AR | 25 mi | $34,375 | $667/mo | 59% |
| Monroe County, AR | 27 mi | $43,214 | $614/mo | 63% |
| Arkansas County, AR | 31 mi | $53,164 | $843/mo | 65% |
| Tunica County, MS | 32 mi | $39,364 | $977/mo | 40% |
| Quitman County, MS | 34 mi | $32,412 | $672/mo | 65% |
Towns and communities in Phillips County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Phillips County residents live in one of the 8. No Phillips County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena-West Helena | city | 8,935 | $36,019 | $771 | 15 mi |
| Marvell | city | 1,160 | $51,875 | $641 | 10 mi |
| Elaine | city | 487 | $29,792 | $326 | 8 mi |
| Lake View | city | 357 | $27,857 | $485 | 2 mi |
| Poplar Grove | CDP | 255 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Lexa | town | 138 | $45,089 | $713 | 13 mi |
| Mellwood | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Oneida | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
Who lives in Phillips County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Residents | Phillips County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.2% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 17.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 29.3% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 14.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Phillips County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Phillips County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Phillips County borrowers.
- Assistance before credit. With a 29% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Phillips County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 59% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
A Phillips County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Phillips County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,344 gross per month ($40,134 / 12)
- Less median rent of $737, which is 22% of it
- $701: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Phillips County applicants
Steps that save money for Phillips County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Arkansas rules that apply in Phillips County
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phillips County a high-income county?
Its $40,134 median ranks 72nd of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Phillips County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $737 against $947 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Phillips County?
By population: Helena-West Helena, Marvell, Elaine, Lake View, Poplar Grove. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Will a Phillips County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Phillips County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Arkansas it is the Arkansas State Bank Department.