1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saline County household earns $79,046, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Saline County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
- The Saline County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Saline County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Saline County
- A Saline County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Saline County borrowers
- Who lives in Saline County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Saline County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Saline County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Saline County's population at 127,479; only 5 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 724 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 176 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). The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (7 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Benton, with about 36,595 residents, or 29% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
At $79,046, the typical Saline County household income is 20% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Saline County | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.5% | -9.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +10.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | +0.6 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. 8.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.407 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Saline County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Saline County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Saline County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +2.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Saline County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Saline County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,033 in Saline County versus $947 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Saline County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $221,200, a typical Saline County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Saline County households own their home and 22% rent.
| Measure | Saline County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,033/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $221,200 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.0% | 11.0% | n/a |
Because most Saline 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Pulaski County at 22 miles out to Faulkner County at 39. Grant County leads the group on income ($71,549), Hot Spring County trails ($55,405), and Saline County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | - | $79,046 | $1,033/mo | 78% |
| Pulaski County, AR | 22 mi | $62,873 | $1,080/mo | 57% |
| Perry County, AR | 25 mi | $55,764 | $805/mo | 80% |
| Garland County, AR | 27 mi | $57,181 | $966/mo | 69% |
| Hot Spring County, AR | 28 mi | $55,405 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Grant County, AR | 29 mi | $71,549 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Faulkner County, AR | 39 mi | $67,289 | $1,005/mo | 62% |
Places inside Saline County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Saline County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 84,102 people, so roughly 34% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $106,290 at the median in Avilla, $57,250 in Alexander. Live in one of these Saline County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | city | 36,595 | $72,876 | $1,072 | 8 mi |
| Bryant | city | 21,504 | $83,024 | $993 | 11 mi |
| East End | CDP | 6,912 | $87,936 | $1,071 | 21 mi |
| Shannon Hills | city | 4,641 | $71,318 | $1,530 | 16 mi |
| Haskell | city | 4,100 | $85,758 | $1,151 | 10 mi |
| Alexander | city | 3,587 | $57,250 | $1,054 | 13 mi |
| Salem | CDP | 2,642 | $73,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Avilla | CDP | 1,833 | $106,290 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Sardis | CDP | 890 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Bauxite | town | 846 | $74,250 | $900 | 12 mi |
| Traskwood | city | 552 | $81,042 | n/a | 14 mi |
A Saline County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Saline County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,587 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,033 uses 16%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,635 total minus rent leaves $1,602
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Saline County's.
What the numbers mean for Saline County borrowers
Where the Saline County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Consolidating cards in Saline County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Saline County, in numbers
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 9.0% for Arkansas.
| Saline County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.4% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Saline County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Saline County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Saline County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Saline County earn?
The median is $79,046; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Saline County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,033 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Saline County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Saline County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Benton?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Saline County, such as Bryant, East End, Shannon Hills.
Is the fit check different in Saline County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.