1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Sharp County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $44,637. 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
- A quick profile of Sharp County
- What Sharp County households earn
- Renting and owning in Sharp County
- Jobs and commutes in Sharp County
- Places inside Sharp County
- Sharp County and the counties next door
- A Sharp County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Sharp County data as a borrower
- Sharp County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Sharp County
- Steps before you apply in Sharp County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Sharp County
With an estimated 17,773 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sharp County ranks 39th of 75 in Arkansas for population. It covers 605 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Sharp County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Cherokee Village is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 5,046 people (28% of the county total).
What Sharp County households earn
At $44,637, the typical Sharp County household income is 32% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 58 Arkansas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Sharp County | +/- vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.0% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.4% | -7.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 17% of Sharp County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.506 here. A household earning below the $44,637 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Sharp County
Renters in Sharp County pay a median of $766 a month, 19% below the Arkansas figure of $947. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $105,100, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 79%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Sharp County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $766/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,100 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 14% | n/a |
Because most Sharp 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.
Jobs and commutes in Sharp County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Sharp County residents work in education and health care and 12% in construction. Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Sharp County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -2.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Sharp County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Sharp County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 9,957 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Highland has the highest median household income on the list ($49,063) and Hardy the lowest ($26,932), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Hardy ($444) and steepest in Ozark Acres ($1,107). None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Village | city | 5,046 | $37,326 | $951 | 10 mi |
| Highland | city | 1,354 | $49,063 | $817 | 7 mi |
| Ash Flat | city | 1,217 | $41,667 | $663 | 9 mi |
| Hardy | city | 890 | $26,932 | $444 | 10 mi |
| Ozark Acres | CDP | 670 | $31,940 | $1,107 | 10 mi |
| Evening Shade | city | 534 | $33,281 | $625 | 11 mi |
| Sidney | town | 175 | $48,750 | $725 | 16 mi |
| Williford | town | 71 | $22,750 | $563 | 8 mi |
Sharp County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Lawrence County at 23 miles out to Oregon County at 36. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Sharp County; Independence County is highest at $56,609 and Fulton County lowest at $42,241. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp County | - | $44,637 | $766/mo | 79% |
| Lawrence County, AR | 23 mi | $44,882 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Fulton County, AR | 24 mi | $42,241 | $626/mo | 85% |
| Izard County, AR | 25 mi | $49,405 | $621/mo | 75% |
| Randolph County, AR | 27 mi | $50,911 | $674/mo | 74% |
| Independence County, AR | 31 mi | $56,609 | $845/mo | 69% |
| Oregon County, MO | 36 mi | $43,069 | $639/mo | 75% |
A Sharp County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Sharp County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sharp County: $3,720
- Median rent: $766, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $573 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $833 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Sharp County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Sharp County data as a borrower
Where the Sharp County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 22% of Sharp County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Sharp County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Sharp County households compared
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Sharp County | All of Arkansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sharp County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Sharp County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Sharp County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Sharp County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Sharp County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sharp County a high-income county?
Its $44,637 median ranks 59th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Sharp County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $766 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Sharp County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Sharp County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cherokee Village, Highland, Ash Flat, Hardy, Ozark Acres and 3 more.
Does living in Sharp County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Sharp County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.