1st Advantage MortgageThe median Prairie County household earns $51,646, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Prairie County by the numbers
- Prairie County housing compared with Arkansas
- What Prairie County households earn
- How Prairie County residents earn a living
- Prairie County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Prairie County
- Prairie County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Prairie County borrowers
- A Prairie County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Prairie County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Prairie County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Prairie County by the numbers
Prairie County is home to about 8,064 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. Land area is 648 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Prairie County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Hazen, with about 1,874 residents, or 23% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Prairie County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Prairie County housing compared with Arkansas
Renters in Prairie County pay a median of $625 a month, 34% below the Arkansas figure of $947. By the Census definition, 45% of Prairie County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $96,400, or 1.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $625/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $96,400 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.8% | 11.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
What Prairie County households earn
At $51,646, the typical Prairie County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 38th of 75.
| Yearly household income | Prairie County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -4.1 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 11.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.451 here. For a borrower in Prairie County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Prairie County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Prairie County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Prairie County. About 87% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Prairie County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | -2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.0% | +4.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Prairie County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Prairie County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 43 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Prairie County; Lonoke County is highest at $72,828 and Monroe County lowest at $43,214.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | - | $51,646 | $625/mo | 76% |
| Lonoke County, AR | 20 mi | $72,828 | $1,025/mo | 75% |
| Monroe County, AR | 22 mi | $43,214 | $614/mo | 63% |
| Woodruff County, AR | 31 mi | $48,158 | $613/mo | 65% |
| White County, AR | 31 mi | $55,249 | $850/mo | 69% |
| Arkansas County, AR | 39 mi | $53,164 | $843/mo | 65% |
| Pulaski County, AR | 43 mi | $62,873 | $1,080/mo | 57% |
Towns and communities in Prairie County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Prairie County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 4,327 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Hazen has the highest median household income on the list ($49,225) and De Valls Bluff the lowest ($27,361), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazen | city | 1,874 | $49,225 | $704 | 3 mi |
| Des Arc | city | 1,591 | $30,921 | $424 | 11 mi |
| De Valls Bluff | city | 553 | $27,361 | $544 | 6 mi |
| Ulm | town | 174 | $63,438 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Fredonia (Biscoe) | town | 135 | $60,313 | n/a | 8 mi |
Prairie County residents: age, schooling, coverage
18% of Prairie County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Prairie County | Arkansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Prairie County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
What the numbers mean for Prairie County borrowers
A few patterns in the Prairie County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 22% of Prairie County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Prairie County's median age is 45.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
A Prairie County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Prairie County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,304 before taxes
- Less median rent of $625, which is 15% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $1,506 total minus rent leaves $881
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,312 a month
If your rent is above $625, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Four steps for Prairie County borrowers
Steps that save money for Prairie County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Prairie County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Prairie County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Prairie County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prairie County a high-income county?
Its $51,646 median ranks 38th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Prairie County rent compare with Arkansas?
$625 locally versus $947 for the state, 34% below.
Does this page cover Hazen?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Prairie County, such as Des Arc, De Valls Bluff, Ulm.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Prairie County or elsewhere in Arkansas, the same rules apply.
Is there a Prairie County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Arkansas it is the Arkansas State Bank Department.