Income and Poverty in the State of Arkansas

According to the 2000 Census, the Asian headed households in the area have median household incomes of $44,274. This income level is 17.6 percent greater than the reported median household income for all households in the state. Hispanic in Arkansasreported a median household income of $33,082, this median is 12.1 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area. Black or African American headed households had median income levels that were 35.7 percent less than the overall reported level in 2000, with a reported median of $24,218. The American Indian and Alaska Native householders in Arkansas reported an income level of $33,818, this level was 10.2 percent less than the median for all households. In the State of Arkansas, White headed households reported a median household income (2005 Dollars) of $40,486 according to the 2000 Dencennial Census, which was 7.5 percent greater than the median household income in 2000.

Contrasted against to other States throughout the US, the State of Arkansas can be recognized as having a relatively high poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 15.8 percent of people living in a family with an income below the poverty level in 1999. The Black or African American race/ethnicity population cohort, has the uppermost poverty rate with 33.6 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged Under 5 years are witness to the most percent living in poverty in Arkansas, with 25 percent of the population in this age category living in poverty.

When analyzed against other States in the US, the State of Arkansas reported a relatively low median household income of $37,653 (2005 Dollars). This median is 30.5 percent lower than the median household income in the United States of $49,133.

As the median household income witnessed a decline since 2000 in the State of Arkansas, the Race/Ethnicity category that saw the sharpest decline in median income was the Black or African American Race/Ethnicity category. This group experienced a decline of 36.7 percent from 2000 to 2005. The White population group was least impacted by the household income decline in Arkansas, experiencing a 55.9 percent increase in household income level, since the year 2005.

The poverty rate in the State of Arkansas has increased by 1.4 percent from the levels reported in the Decennial Census of 2000, moving from 15.8 percent to 17.2 percent.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Arkansas range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 32.7 percent in Phillips County to a low of 7.2 percent in Saline County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Arkansas
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. Phillips County (32.7 percent)
2. Lee County (29.9 )
3. Desha County (28.9 percent)
4. Chicot County (28.6 percent)
5. St. Francis County (27.5 percent)
6. Monroe County (27.5 percent)
7. Woodruff County (27 percent)
8. Bradley County (26.3 percent)
9. Crittenden County (25.3 percent)
10. Searcy County (23.8 percent)


The household income has declined from the values (adjusted for inflation) in 2000. The median has decreased to $34,999, posting a 7 percent decline. The State of Arkansas ranks 18 of 46 states when comparing the decline in median household income in the United States.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Arkansas range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $49,806 in Saline County to a low of $23,997 in Lee County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Arkansas
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. Saline County ($49,806)
2. Lonoke County ($47,167 )
3. Benton County ($47,129)
4. Faulkner County ($44,699)
5. Pulaski County ($44,600)
6. Grant County ($43,503)
7. Washington County ($40,588)
8. Sebastian County ($39,650)
9. Crawford County ($38,459)
10. Craighead County ($37,937)


Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.