Monroe County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Monroe 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
Monroe County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $43,668 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,497 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.3% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.0% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 28% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing slower in Monroe County (4.2%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Monroe 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 Monroe County, Arkansas grew by 47.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $43,668 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,294 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,803 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.4% | 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 Monroe County, it is 0.534, lower than Arkansas's 0.551, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 29% more than women's income in Monroe County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $402,185 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 33% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 10% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $721 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.2% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 257 people are unemployed in Monroe County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 26 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, Arkansas has fallen from 10.2% to 9.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 6.2% in 2020.
Monroe County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, AR is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 6,589 residents against a local median of 8,359. Monroe County, AR's unemployment, at 9.8%, runs 21% above the 8.1% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.2%/yr against a local median of 5.0%/yr, 17% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Monroe County, AR reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 16.1% on unemployment, so Monroe County, AR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, AR | 6,589 | $43,668 #4/6 | 4.2%/yr #5/6 | 9.8% #4/6 | 0.534 #2/6 |
| Prairie County, AR | 8,064 | $52,769 | 4.2%/yr | 3.0% | 0.523 |
| Arkansas County, AR | 16,514 | $53,500 | 5.0%/yr | 8.1% | 0.539 |
| Phillips County, AR | 15,415 | $40,138 | 5.1%/yr | 14.4% | 0.558 |
| Lee County, AR | 8,359 | $34,072 | 3.9%/yr | 19.1% | 0.694 |
| Woodruff County, AR | 6,026 | $46,661 | 5.8%/yr | 5.0% | 0.553 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe 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 Monroe County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Monroe County, Arkansas?
Monroe 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 $43,668, about 28% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
How has median household income changed in Monroe County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, Arkansas rose 47%, from $29,667 to $43,668. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arkansas as a whole: +47% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, Arkansas was $43,446, up 6% from $40,964 in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, Arkansas was $37,780. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $43,668.
Is unemployment high in Monroe County, Arkansas?
Unemployment in Monroe County, Arkansas is 9.8%, well above the Arkansas rate of 4.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monroe County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.534. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Monroe County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 33% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 10% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $721 since 2009.
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