Howard County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Howard 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
Howard County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $45,731 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $38,271 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.7% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.1% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 25% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing slower in Howard County (3.6%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Howard 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 Howard County, Arkansas grew by 39.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $45,731 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.556 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $45,583 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $37,246 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.3% | 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 Howard County, it is 0.556, 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 22% more than women's income in Howard County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $291,795 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 28% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2019, and was narrowest at 16% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,071 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.0% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 293 people are unemployed in Howard County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Howard County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Arkansas has fallen from 7.1% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2014.
Howard County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, AR is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 12,583 residents against a local median of 15,710. Where Howard County, AR breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 23% below the local median of 4.6%/yr at 3.6%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.0%/yr on income growth, so Howard County, AR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard County, AR has the 6th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, AR | 12,583 | $45,731 #6/6 | 3.6%/yr #6/6 | 5.4% #3/6 | 0.556 #5/6 |
| Sevier County, AR | 15,710 | $52,135 | 3.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.544 |
| Pike County, AR | 10,113 | $49,507 | 4.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.562 |
| Little River County, AR | 11,816 | $53,826 | 5.7%/yr | 7.3% | 0.537 |
| Polk County, AR | 19,361 | $49,512 | 5.2%/yr | 7.3% | 0.547 |
| Hempstead County, AR | 19,508 | $47,075 | 4.3%/yr | 5.6% | 0.549 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard 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 Howard County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Howard County, Arkansas?
Howard 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 $45,731, about 25% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
How has median household income changed in Howard County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Arkansas rose 40%, from $32,711 to $45,731. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arkansas as a whole: +40% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Arkansas was $44,709, about the same as in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Arkansas was $37,390. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $45,731.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.556. 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 Howard County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 28% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2019, and was narrowest at 16% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,071 since 2009.
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