Desha County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Desha County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Desha County Well below averageLess wealthy than 92% of counties in Arkansas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Desha County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $38,194 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,471 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.2% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.9% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Desha County is about 37% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing faster in Desha County (4.7%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Desha County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Arkansas average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Desha County, Arkansas grew by 41.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $38,194 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Desha County
| Metric | Desha County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.569 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,225 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,860 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.5% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Desha County, it is 0.569, higher than Arkansas's 0.551, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 12% more than women's income in Desha County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $187,775 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Desha County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 26% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2012, and in 2020 women out-earned men by 3%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,598 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Desha County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.8% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 320 people are unemployed in Desha County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Desha County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Desha County, Arkansas has fallen from 12.6% to 8.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.7% in 2015 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2023.
Desha County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Desha County, AR is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 10,741 residents against a local median of 16,514. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Desha County, AR an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 12% above the local median at 8.0% against 7.1%. Desha County, AR has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desha County, AR | 10,741 | $38,194 #6/6 | 4.7%/yr #3/6 | 8.0% #4/6 | 0.569 #2/6 |
| Bolivar County, MS | 29,520 | $39,667 | 4.6%/yr | 7.1% | 0.595 |
| Arkansas County, AR | 16,514 | $53,500 | 5.0%/yr | 8.1% | 0.539 |
| Lincoln County, AR | 12,948 | $54,462 | 6.3%/yr | 2.7% | 0.698 |
| Drew County, AR | 17,048 | $43,170 | 3.6%/yr | 5.9% | 0.571 |
| Chicot County, AR | 9,757 | $39,123 | 3.7%/yr | 9.0% | 0.594 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Desha County, Arkansas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Arkansas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Desha County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Desha County, Arkansas?
Desha County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $38,194, about 37% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
How has median household income changed in Desha County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Desha County, Arkansas rose 41%, from $27,095 to $38,194. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arkansas as a whole: +41% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Desha County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Desha County, Arkansas was $36,764, down 3% from $37,795 in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Desha County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Desha County, Arkansas was $32,446. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $38,194.
Is unemployment high in Desha County, Arkansas?
Unemployment in Desha County, Arkansas is 8.0%, well above the Arkansas rate of 4.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Desha County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Desha County is 0.569. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Desha County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Desha County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 26% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2012, and in 2020 women out-earned men by 3%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,598 since 2009.
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