Howard County, AR Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,822 | 3,059,436 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 21.5 | 57.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.86% | 0.31% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.2 | 36.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,168 | 1,188,527 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Howard County declined by 10.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 12,696 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Howard County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $44,709 | $58,772 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.74% | 4.71% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 24% lower than in Arkansas.
Housing
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $103,884 | $123,805 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $702 | $913 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.2% | 66.1% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Howard County is about 12.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $702 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Howard County spend about 27 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 114 hours, about 4.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.7 | 18.5 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.3 | 37.0 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 114 | 154 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,527 | $4,780 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,972 | 6,306 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 308 | 912 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Arkansas:
Arkansas County (12.2 min), Dallas County (12.7 min), Clark County (13.3 min).
Slowest:
Newton County (32.2 min), Perry County (32.0 min), Grant County (30.9 min).
The average commute time in Howard County is 14 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in Arkansas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Howard County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 22.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.42 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Arkansas:
Pulaski County (0.3), Benton County (0.3), Washington County (0.3).
Lowest:
Lee County (0.2), Lincoln County (0.2), Scott County (0.2).
Health
Howard County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.5 | 75.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 23.0% | 22.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.4% | 23.3% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Arkansas:
Benton County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Newton County (0.8).
Lowest:
Phillips County (0.7), Chicot County (0.7), Desha County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Howard County, Arkansas.
What is the population of Howard County, Arkansas?
The population of Howard County, Arkansas is 12,822, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Howard County, Arkansas?
The population density of Howard County, Arkansas is 21.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Howard County, Arkansas?
The median household income in Howard County, Arkansas is $44,709, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Howard County, Arkansas?
The median home price in Howard County, Arkansas is $103,884, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County, Arkansas?
The unemployment rate in Howard County, Arkansas is 7.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.