1st Advantage MortgageThe median Randolph County household earns $50,911, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Arkansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Randolph County
- What Randolph County households earn
- The Randolph County job picture
- Housing costs in Randolph County
- Towns and communities in Randolph County
- Regional comparison for Randolph County
- Room for a loan payment in Randolph County
- More Randolph County figures
- Before borrowing in Randolph County
- A Randolph County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Randolph County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Randolph County's population at 18,838; only 35 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. It covers 652 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Randolph County, Pocahontas leads by population with about 7,538; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
What Randolph County households earn
The median household income in Randolph County is $50,911; statewide it is $60,773, so Randolph County runs 16% below Arkansas as a whole. Only 40 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Randolph County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.3% | +10.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.9% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -4.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Randolph County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.4%, 6 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.
The Randolph County job picture
The biggest employer of Randolph County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Randolph County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.7% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Randolph County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Randolph County
A typical Randolph County rental runs $674 a month including utilities, which is 29% below Arkansas. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,600, about 2.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Cost | Randolph County | Arkansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $674/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,600 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Randolph 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.
Towns and communities in Randolph County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Randolph County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Randolph County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas | city | 7,538 | $44,216 | $768 | 6 mi |
| Biggers | town | 428 | $57,292 | $675 | 13 mi |
| Reyno | city | 310 | $56,492 | $656 | 15 mi |
| Maynard | town | 303 | $32,273 | $425 | 9 mi |
| O'Kean | town | 196 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Ravenden Springs | town | 164 | $45,962 | $567 | 11 mi |
| Warm Springs | CDP | 87 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Randolph County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Randolph County's, from 21 to 34 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Randolph County; Greene County is highest at $57,839 and Ripley County lowest at $42,037. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Randolph County resident follows Arkansas rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph County | - | $50,911 | $674/mo | 74% |
| Lawrence County, AR | 21 mi | $44,882 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Ripley County, MO | 23 mi | $42,037 | $654/mo | 79% |
| Sharp County, AR | 27 mi | $44,637 | $766/mo | 79% |
| Greene County, AR | 30 mi | $57,839 | $904/mo | 66% |
| Oregon County, MO | 32 mi | $43,069 | $639/mo | 75% |
| Clay County, AR | 34 mi | $51,481 | $707/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Randolph County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Randolph County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,243 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $674 uses 16%
- $853: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $1,824 total minus rent leaves $1,150
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Randolph County figures
College graduates make up 12% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.2%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Residents | Randolph County | Arkansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.1% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.3% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Before borrowing in Randolph County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Randolph County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 22% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Randolph County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Randolph County:
- Price the Randolph County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Arkansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Arkansas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Randolph County, check the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Arkansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Randolph County household make?
About $50,911 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 16% below the Arkansas median.
How does Randolph County rent compare with Arkansas?
$674 locally versus $947 for the state, 29% below.
What are the biggest places in Randolph County?
By population: Pocahontas, Biggers, Reyno, Maynard, O'Kean. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Randolph County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Randolph 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.