Your life in Van Buren County, Arkansas

What stands out

If you had to describe Van Buren County in numbers, start here: violent crime is in the top 6% of American counties (4.9 per 1,000), rainfall is in the top 12% of American counties (53 inches a year), and the median household income is in the bottom 13% of American counties ($45,768). Within Arkansas it ranks 24th of 75 counties for violent crime.

Where you are

You live in Van Buren County, Arkansas. 15,900 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +189).

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 $45,768 a year, lower than 87% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $43,889. Unemployment runs 4.3%, higher than 77% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 27 minutes each way.

Arkansas takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,614 a year.

Home

The median home costs $174K, cheaper than 74% of American counties, about 2.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $674 a month. Property tax is 0.53% of home value, roughly $621 a year on that median home, lower than 85% of American counties. 79% 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 12 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 75.0 years, shorter than 60% of American counties. There are 6 active physicians in the county, about 3.8 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 12.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.97 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 68% of American counties. 84% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 57 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 59% 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 60°F, highs near 72 and lows near 49, warmer than 69% of American counties. About 53 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 60 out of 100, riskier than 60% of American counties; the county has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 200 Mbps down, faster than 50% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• 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
• Derived from 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.