Van Buren County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Van Buren 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
Van Buren County Well below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Arkansas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Van Buren County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,521 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,403 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.8% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Van Buren County is about 17% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing faster in Van Buren County (4.9%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County, Arkansas grew by 64.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,521 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Van Buren County
| Metric | Van Buren County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.541 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,371 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,202 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.1% | 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 Van Buren County, it is 0.541, 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 34% more than women's income in Van Buren County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $460,915 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Van Buren County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 42% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,502 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Van Buren County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.3% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 225 people are unemployed in Van Buren County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Van Buren County is 21 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Van Buren County, Arkansas has fallen from 9.6% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.9% in 2014.
Van Buren County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Van Buren County, AR is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 15,983 residents against a local median of 21,055. The measure that sets Van Buren County, AR apart most is income growth: 4.9%/yr, 31% above the local median of 3.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.8%/yr on income growth, so Van Buren County, AR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Van Buren County, AR has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County, AR | 15,983 | $50,521 #4/6 | 4.9%/yr #1/6 | 3.8% #4/6 | 0.541 #4/6 |
| Conway County, AR | 21,055 | $55,358 | 4.7%/yr | 6.4% | 0.537 |
| Searcy County, AR | 7,857 | $44,165 | 2.9%/yr | 3.7% | 0.549 |
| Stone County, AR | 12,568 | $40,640 | 3.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.509 |
| Faulkner County, AR | 127,709 | $66,777 | 3.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.554 |
| Cleburne County, AR | 25,225 | $56,072 | 3.9%/yr | 6.4% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Van Buren 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 Van Buren County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Van Buren County, Arkansas?
Van Buren 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 $50,521, about 17% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
How fast is household income rising in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Van Buren County, Arkansas rose 65%, from $30,708 to $50,521. Over the same years, income here outpaced Arkansas as a whole: +65% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Van Buren County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Van Buren County, Arkansas was $46,182, about the same as in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Van Buren County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Van Buren County, Arkansas was $40,394. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $50,521.
Is unemployment high in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
Unemployment in Van Buren County, Arkansas is only 3.8%, well below the Arkansas rate of 4.9%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Van Buren County is 0.541. 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 Van Buren County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Van Buren County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 42% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,502 since 2009.
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