County · Arkansas
Prairie County, Arkansas
Prairie County, Arkansas. Prairie County had 7,923 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.3% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 05117.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,923
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,282 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,064
Median household income
$51,646
±$6,250 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$96,400
±$12,924 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$625
±$52 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
How many people live in Prairie County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,282 residents in Prairie County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,923 for July 1, 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,064 over 648 square miles of land.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,064 | 3,049,391 | −125 |
| Households | 3,256±150 | 1,205,987 | −520 |
| Average household size | 2.43±0.11 | 2.46 | +0.30 |
| Housing units | 4,086±17 | 1,394,673 | −472 |
Prairie County's population since 2000
From 9,539 in 2000 to 7,923 in 2025: down 16.9%. 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.
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 Prairie County?
Prairie County holds 5 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Des Arc with 1,841 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
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 Prairie County?
The median resident of Prairie County is 45.7 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 23.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 9.9%.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7±0.6 | 38.5 | −1.5 |
| Under 18 years | 20.6%±0.6 pts | 23.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.6%±1.1 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% | 9.0% | +0.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.4%±1.3 pts | 67.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.9%±1.2 pts | 14.6% | −2.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1%±1.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.3%±1.0 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4%±1.9 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 22.9%±3.0 pts | 18.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.0%±1.8 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.4%±3.6 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.2%±3.2 pts | 25.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.2%±2.0 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.9 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 Prairie County earn?
Half of Prairie County's 3,256 households earn less than $51,646 a year (±$6,250), against $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $52,501 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,646±$6,250 | $60,773 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $72,576±$7,808 | $84,759 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,905±$3,092 | $34,225 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.8%±3.0 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.3%±6.1 pts | 21.1% | −10.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.5%±3.6 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 72.8%±4.9 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 Prairie County?
Owners occupy 75.8% of Prairie County's occupied homes and renters 24.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,400 by its owner (±$12,924). The median renter pays $625 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,400±$12,924 | $188,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $625±$52 | $947 | −$137 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.1%±11.5 pts | 35.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,105±$58 | $1,345 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.8%±4.8 pts | 66.4% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,086±17 | 1,394,673 | −472 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3%±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 15.2%±7.7 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.2%±4.7 pts | 70.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.8%±3.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.6%±1.5 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 Prairie County building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units across Prairie County in 2025 (4 single-family), 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Prairie County get to work?
87.4% of Prairie County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.
| Measure | Prairie County | Arkansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.6%±3.4 pts | 58.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0%±1.8 pts | 4.9% | −4.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 87.4%±4.4 pts | 78.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.9%±3.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.3%±2.2 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.6 min±1.8 | 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 Prairie County's census tracts?
Prairie County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $40,938 (Tract 4601) to $73,250 (Tract 4602).
| Tract 460105117460100 | 3,475±322 | $40,938 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 460205117460200 | 3,051±417 | $73,250 |
| Tract 460305117460300 | 1,538±341 | $59,875 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Prairie County compare with Arkansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 67th of 75 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 58th of 75 |
| Residents per square mile | 65th of 75 |
| Median household income | 38th of 75 |
| Median home value | 64th of 75 |
| Median gross rent | 67th of 75 |
| Poverty rate | 70th of 75 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28th of 75 |
| Median age | 13th of 75 |
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 Prairie 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.