1st Advantage MortgageScott County households have a median income of $43,270 and median rent of $722 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Scott County
- How much Scott County households make
- Scott County housing compared with Arkansas
- How Scott County residents earn a living
- Places inside Scott County
- How Scott County compares with nearby counties
- A Scott County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Scott County
- What the numbers mean for Scott County borrowers
- Checklist for Scott County applicants
- Lender oversight for Scott County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Scott County
Scott County is home to about 9,816 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 62nd most populous of 75 county-level areas in Arkansas. Spread over 893 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Scott County is not part of any metropolitan area. Waldron is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 3,344 people (34% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Scott County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Scott County households make
Half of Scott County households take in less than $43,270 a year and half take in more, 29% below the Arkansas median of $60,773. Only 62 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Scott County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.4% | +13.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 10.9% | -10.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.2% | -5.5 pts |
About 42% of households earn under $35,000, while 12% clear $100,000. 18.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Scott County housing compared with Arkansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $722 in Scott County versus $947 statewide. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $115,000, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. The median year built is 1981.
| Measure | Scott County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $722/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,000 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Scott County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How Scott County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Scott County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (27% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Where residents work | Scott County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27.1% | +14.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.0% | +3.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.2% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Scott County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Scott County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 3,497 residents, leaving about 64% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Scott County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldron | city | 3,344 | $33,839 | $704 | 4 mi |
| Boles | CDP | 153 | $83,516 | n/a | 5 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Scott County compares with nearby counties
Sebastian County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Yell County, is 38 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Scott County; Logan County is highest at $58,555 and Montgomery County lowest at $48,906. The list crosses into Oklahoma, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | - | $43,270 | $722/mo | 78% |
| Sebastian County, AR | 26 mi | $57,790 | $886/mo | 61% |
| Polk County, AR | 27 mi | $49,191 | $711/mo | 79% |
| Montgomery County, AR | 31 mi | $48,906 | $636/mo | 81% |
| Logan County, AR | 32 mi | $58,555 | $745/mo | 78% |
| Le Flore County, OK | 36 mi | $51,565 | $798/mo | 73% |
| Yell County, AR | 38 mi | $55,934 | $735/mo | 68% |
A Scott County household budget, worked through
Here is the Scott County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $3,606 gross per month ($43,270 / 12)
- Median rent: $722, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,262 total minus rent leaves $540
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $901 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Scott County
13% of Scott County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Scott County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.0% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.7% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Scott County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
What the numbers mean for Scott County borrowers
Based on the Scott County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Scott County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Scott County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Checklist for Scott County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Scott County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Scott County
Consumer lenders serving Scott County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Scott County household make?
About $43,270 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Arkansas median.
How much is rent in Scott County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $722 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Scott County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Waldron, Boles.
Can Scott County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Arkansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Scott County?
Start with the Arkansas State Bank Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.