Hempstead
Arkansas

What stands out

Against every county in America, Hempstead County is unusual in three ways: the share working from home is in the bottom 2% of American counties (2%), the restaurant count per person is in the bottom 3% of American counties (0.3 per 1,000), and rainfall is in the top 4% of American counties (58 inches a year). Within Arkansas it ranks 5th of 74 counties for the share working from home, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Hempstead County, Arkansas. 20,037 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.7% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -91).

Arkansas has been cutting its income tax rates every legislative session since 2015, and the top rate is now well under 4%. Home prices remain among the lowest in the country, especially outside Northwest Arkansas, where Walmart, Tyson and J.B. Hunt have built a fast-growing corporate corridor around Bentonville and Fayetteville. Tornado season is real across the whole state.

Money

The typical household here brings in $45,049 a year, lower than 88% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $45,282. Unemployment runs 3.3%, lower than 55% of American counties. 2% of workers work from home.

Arkansas takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,587 a year.

Home

The median home costs $124K, cheaper than 92% of American counties, about 1.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $722 a month. Property tax is 0.50% of home value, roughly $521 a year on that median home, lower than 88% of American counties. 68% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than 94% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 11 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 74.8 years, shorter than 61% of American counties. There are 13 active physicians in the county, about 6.5 per 10,000 people. 12.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.60 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 94% of American counties. 84% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 34 points. 45% of eligible voters turned out. Under Arkansas law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 65°F, highs near 75 and lows near 54, warmer than 82% of American counties. About 58 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 58 out of 100, riskier than 58% of American counties; the county has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 161 Mbps down, slower than 66% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 National Park Service site.