A life in Hempstead County, Arkansas

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 4.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,972 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.

Sources for this story

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• DataSpine derived — ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Arkansas tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.