1st Advantage MortgageIn Pulaski County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $62,873 a year and the typical rent is $1,080. 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
- Who lives in Pulaski County
- Income in Pulaski County compared with Arkansas
- Housing costs in Pulaski County
- How Pulaski County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Pulaski County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Pulaski County household budget, worked through
- Pulaski County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Pulaski County
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Before you sign
- More guides for Pulaski County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Pulaski County
Roughly 399,818 residents live in Pulaski County, Arkansas, 1st by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. It covers 758 square miles of land, or about 527 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metropolitan area. Little Rock is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 203,436 people (51% of the county total).
Income in Pulaski County compared with Arkansas
Pulaski County households have a median income of $62,873 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 9th of 75 in Arkansas.
| Band | Pulaski County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.5% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | +2.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Pulaski County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). For a borrower in Pulaski 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.
Housing costs in Pulaski County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,080 in Pulaski County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Pulaski County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $214,700, or 3.4 years of median income. 57% of Pulaski County households own their home and 43% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Pulaski County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,080/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $214,700 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
How Pulaski County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (8% against 5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Pulaski County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 7.2% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Sector | Pulaski County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | +2.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Pulaski County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 91% of Pulaski County residents live in one of the 16. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $25,598 in Woodson to $175,125 in Roland. Names with links open a city guide. The other 14 places are covered here.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | city | 203,436 | $63,003 | $1,106 | 4 mi |
| North Little Rock | city | 64,538 | $52,707 | $1,069 | 4 mi |
| Sherwood | city | 33,070 | $81,328 | $1,101 | 8 mi |
| Jacksonville | city | 29,221 | $49,666 | $930 | 13 mi |
| Maumelle | city | 19,373 | $103,333 | $1,047 | 8 mi |
| Gibson | CDP | 4,167 | $66,496 | $1,197 | 10 mi |
| Landmark | CDP | 3,948 | $53,788 | $778 | 11 mi |
| Wrightsville | city | 1,484 | $45,417 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Roland | CDP | 1,147 | $175,125 | n/a | 15 mi |
| McAlmont | CDP | 1,088 | $34,696 | $950 | 7 mi |
| Sweet Home | CDP | 939 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Cammack Village | city | 797 | $101,250 | $1,700 | 2 mi |
| Natural Steps | CDP | 683 | $157,813 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Woodson | CDP | 619 | $25,598 | n/a | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 40 miles). Saline County leads the group on income ($79,046), Conway County trails ($54,187), and Pulaski County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | - | $62,873 | $1,080/mo | 57% |
| Saline County, AR | 22 mi | $79,046 | $1,033/mo | 78% |
| Lonoke County, AR | 24 mi | $72,828 | $1,025/mo | 75% |
| Faulkner County, AR | 26 mi | $67,289 | $1,005/mo | 62% |
| Grant County, AR | 34 mi | $71,549 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Perry County, AR | 37 mi | $55,764 | $805/mo | 80% |
| Conway County, AR | 40 mi | $54,187 | $755/mo | 74% |
A Pulaski County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pulaski County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,239 a month: gross income for a household at the Pulaski County median
- Less median rent of $1,080, which is 21% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,253 total minus rent leaves $1,173
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Pulaski County's.
Pulaski County households compared
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Pulaski County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.9% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Pulaski County
What the Pulaski County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Pulaski County resident can confirm its license with the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Arkansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Pulaski County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Pulaski County
Guides that cover parts of Pulaski County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pulaski County earn?
The median is $62,873; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Pulaski County rent compare with Arkansas?
$1,080 locally versus $947 for the state, 14% above.
What are the biggest places in Pulaski County?
By population: Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Maumelle. The county has 16 Census places in all.
Are Pulaski County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pulaski County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.