Hempstead County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Hempstead 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
Hempstead County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hempstead County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $47,075 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,512 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.6% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.5% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hempstead County is about 23% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing slower in Hempstead County (4.3%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Hempstead 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 Hempstead County, Arkansas grew by 26.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $47,075 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hempstead County
| Metric | Hempstead County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.549 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,666 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,554 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.6% | 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 Hempstead County, it is 0.549, about the same as Arkansas's 0.551, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $353,920 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hempstead County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 36% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 7% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,939 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hempstead County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.9% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 433 people are unemployed in Hempstead County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Hempstead County is 18 minutes, about the same as in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hempstead County, Arkansas has fallen from 8.5% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2014 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2023.
Hempstead County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hempstead County, AR is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 19,508 residents against a local median of 10,113. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Hempstead County, AR an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 5% above the local median at 5.6% against 5.3%. Hempstead County, AR has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead County, AR | 19,508 | $47,075 #4/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 5.6% #5/6 | 0.549 #2/6 |
| Nevada County, AR | 8,159 | $54,239 | 7.7%/yr | 4.6% | 0.506 |
| Pike County, AR | 10,113 | $49,507 | 4.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.562 |
| Miller County, AR | 42,360 | $48,586 | 2.5%/yr | 7.1% | 0.572 |
| Howard County, AR | 12,583 | $45,731 | 3.6%/yr | 5.4% | 0.556 |
| Lafayette County, AR | 6,108 | $41,161 | 4.1%/yr | 5.3% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hempstead County, Arkansas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Arkansas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hempstead County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Hempstead County, Arkansas?
Hempstead 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 $47,075, about 23% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
Are incomes growing in Hempstead County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hempstead County, Arkansas rose 27%, from $37,100 to $47,075. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arkansas as a whole: +27% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Hempstead County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hempstead County, Arkansas was $47,713, up 6% from $45,042 in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Hempstead County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hempstead County, Arkansas was $45,427. By 2024 it had risen 4% to $47,075.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hempstead County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Hempstead County is 0.549. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Hempstead County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hempstead County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 36% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 7% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,939 since 2009.
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