County · Arkansas

Hempstead County, Arkansas

Hempstead County, Arkansas. Hempstead County had 19,080 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.9% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. It holds 12 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 05057.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

19,080

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,065 · ACS 2020-2024: 19,508

Median household income

$46,787

±$3,777 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773

Median home value

$105,700

±$12,085 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000

Median gross rent

$815

±$53 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947

How many people live in Hempstead County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 20,065 residents in Hempstead County. The Census Bureau estimates 19,080 for July 1, 2025, down 4.9% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 19,508 over 727 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −331 (19,662)
2021→2022 −209 (19,453)
2022→2023 −69 (19,384)
2023→2024 −130 (19,254)
2024→2025 −174 (19,080)

Hempstead County in Arkansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Hempstead County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	19,508	3,049,391	−2,334
Households	7,479±306	1,205,987	−615
Average household size	2.57±0.11	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	9,642±34	1,394,673	−891

Hempstead County's population since 2000

From 23,587 in 2000 to 19,080 in 2025: down 19.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 23,587
2005 (estimate) 22,924
2010 Census 22,609
2015 (estimate) 22,095
2020 Census 20,065
2025 (estimate) 19,080

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Hempstead County?

Hempstead County holds 12 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Hope with 8,445 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Hempstead County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hope	city	8,952	8,671±20	$37,500	$91,900	23.4%	100%
BlevinsGEOID 0507030	city	288	167±91	$50,972	$102,000	13.8%	100%
PerrytownGEOID 0554680	town	232	251±114	$56,250	$125,000	7.3%	100%
FultonGEOID 0525360	town	115	189±130	not published	$129,200	7.9%	100%
WashingtonGEOID 0573370	city	94	93±58	$38,421	not published	8.6%	100%
OakhavenGEOID 0551080	town	65	34±29	$61,250	$115,600	19.4%	100%
McCaskillGEOID 0542410	town	57	46±42	not published	$171,900	84.8%	100%
PatmosGEOID 0553900	town	57	38±23	$40,417	not published	28.9%	100%
OzanGEOID 0552940	town	50	43±40	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
SaratogaGEOID 0562630	CDP	124	18±25	not published	not published	0.0%	37%
McNabGEOID 0543070	town	30	73±99	not published	$31,800	11.0%	100%
Emmet	city	415	435±170	$56,016	$86,900	22.8%	4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Hempstead County?

The median resident of Hempstead County is 41.2 years old; 25.3% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 28.6%. 7.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Hempstead County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.2±0.7	38.5	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.3%±0.1 pts	23.1%	–
65 years and over	18.7%±0.5 pts	17.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	15.3%	9.0%	+2.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	51.5%±0.3 pts	67.4%	−3.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	28.6%±1.3 pts	14.6%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	1.6%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.6%±1.4 pts	6.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	7.8%±1.1 pts	5.4%	+3.1 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	11.1%±1.4 pts	8.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.2%±1.3 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	24.0%±2.0 pts	18.0%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.3%±1.7 pts	9.0%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	82.4%±2.0 pts	88.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.3%±2.2 pts	25.7%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.2%±1.8 pts	9.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.6%±0.4 pts	2.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Hempstead County earn?

Half of Hempstead County's 7,479 households earn less than $46,787 a year (±$3,777), against $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $52,748 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hempstead County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$46,787±$3,777	$60,773	no clear change
Mean household income	$71,285±$13,362	$84,759	–
Per capita income	$28,673±$4,709	$34,225	no clear change
People below the poverty line	20.2%±2.9 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	26.5%±6.4 pts	21.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	10.3%±2.5 pts	10.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	75.7%±4.6 pts	86.7%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Hempstead County?

Owners occupy 71.7% of Hempstead County's occupied homes and renters 28.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,700 by its owner (±$12,085). The median renter pays $815 a month including utilities, and 49.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hempstead County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$105,700±$12,085	$188,000	no clear change
Median gross rent	$815±$53	$947	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	49.6%±12.5 pts	35.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,132±$79	$1,345	–
Owner-occupied homes	71.7%±3.4 pts	66.4%	no clear change
Housing units	9,642±34	1,394,673	−891
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±1.0 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.3%±4.8 pts	6.4%	–
Single-family detached homes	72.8%±3.8 pts	70.0%	–
Mobile homes	18.6%±3.2 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.4 pts	2.1%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	6.6%±2.2 pts	4.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Hempstead County building?

Builders took permits for 2 new housing units across Hempstead County in 2025 (2 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 0 units
2021 1 units
2022 1 units
2023 0 units
2024 2 units
2025 2 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Hempstead County get to work?

86.2% of Hempstead County's workers drive alone and 3.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hempstead County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	51.6%±3.2 pts	58.4%	–
Unemployment rate	5.6%±2.6 pts	4.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	86.2%±2.9 pts	78.9%	–
Carpooled	7.9%±2.1 pts	9.4%	–
Public transportation	0.6%±0.5 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	0.3%±0.5 pts	1.4%	–
Worked from home	3.9%±1.6 pts	8.8%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	21.2 min±1.9	22.5 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Hempstead County's census tracts?

Hempstead County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $24,556 (Tract 4803.01) to $58,438 (Tract 4804).

Census tracts of Hempstead County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 4801.0105057480101	Blevins (7%)	2,052	2,706±548	$57,180	$136,800	$949	21.1%
Tract 4801.0205057480102	Washington (5%)	2,785	2,329±393	$46,250	$115,200	$430	12.1%
Tract 480205057480200	Fulton (7%)	2,156	1,995±428	$50,254	$120,100	$849	11.7%
Tract 4803.0105057480301	Hope (98%)	2,121	1,937±410	$24,556	$74,400	$827	32.1%
Tract 4803.0205057480302	Hope (76%)	3,064	3,029±488	$45,746	$95,100	$677	22.0%
Tract 480405057480400	Hope (3%)	3,730	3,643±354	$58,438	$155,300	$644	25.9%
Tract 480505057480500	Hope (94%)	4,157	3,869±449	$52,094	$121,700	$868	16.1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Hempstead County compare with Arkansas's other counties?

Hempstead County's rank among Arkansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	34th of 75
Growth 2020-2025	60th of 75
Residents per square mile	39th of 75
Median household income	54th of 75
Median home value	57th of 75
Median gross rent	25th of 75
Poverty rate	25th of 75
Bachelor's degree or higher	41st of 75
Median age	40th of 75

Every county in Arkansas

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hempstead County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.