Prairie
Arkansas

What stands out

What stands out about Prairie County: the typical two-bedroom rent is among the lowest in America ($377 a month), the home price against local income is in the bottom 2% of American counties (1.1 years of income), and the overdose death rate is in the bottom 4% of American counties (0 per 100,000). Within Arkansas it ranks 1st of 75 counties for the typical two-bedroom rent, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Prairie County, Arkansas. 8,217 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 0.5% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +23).

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 $47,045 a year, lower than 85% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $45,818. Unemployment runs 3.0%, lower than 67% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 25 minutes each way.

Arkansas takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,661 a year.

Home

The median home costs $151K, cheaper than 84% of American counties, about 1.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $377 a month. Property tax is 0.55% of home value, roughly $480 a year on that median home, lower than 83% of American counties. 77% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.4 per 1,000 residents, higher than 76% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 74.2 years, shorter than 67% of American counties. There are 0 active physicians in the county, about 0.0 per 10,000 people; the nearest doctor is in another county. 11.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.90 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 71% of American counties. 86% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 61 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 54% 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 64°F, highs near 74 and lows near 54, warmer than 80% of American counties. About 45 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 48 out of 100, safer than 52% of American counties; the county has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 174 Mbps down, slower than 61% of American counties. There are 5 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.