Independence County, Arkansas
Located in Arkansas, Independence County has a population of 38,175 residents and a median age of 38.7 years, making it the #1,246 most populous county out of 3,222 nationwide. In terms of economic indicators, the county has a poverty rate of 20.4%. The median home value is $142,600, and the median household income is $56,609, which is 25% below the national median.
Demographics
Independence County has a population of 38,175, making it the #1,246 most populous county in the US. The median age is 38.7 years, which is 0.5% below the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Independence County is $56,609, ranking #2,367 out of 3,222 counties — 24.7% below the national median. The poverty rate is 20.4% and unemployment stands at 3.9%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Independence County is $142,600 (-49.4% vs national). Renters pay a median of $845/mo and the homeownership rate is 69.2%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Independence County, 18.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 46.2% below the national average, ranking #2,340 out of 3,222 counties.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Independence County is 73.4 years. 25.6% of adults report poor or fair health and 9.8% lack health insurance. Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
24.1% of adults in Independence County smoke , 39.6% are obese , and 18.6% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 14.1 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in Independence County is 3.8 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 17.4 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 25.4 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
18.1% of children in Independence County live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 6.2 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 32.9 per 1,000 females age 15–19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Independence County is 52.0%. The mean commute time is 21.3 min, which is 22.8% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Independence County voted Republican with a margin of 59.5%. The vote was 19.2% Dem / 78.7% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 1.3 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
About Independence County, Arkansas
Independence County, Arkansas has a total population of 38,175, making it the 1,246th most populous county in the United States. The median age in Independence County is 38.7 years, which is 0.5% below the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Independence County is $56,609, which ranks #2,367 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 24.7% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 20.4%, higher than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 3.9%.
The median home value in Independence County is $142,600, 49.4% below the national median. Renters in Independence County pay a median gross rent of $845 per month. The homeownership rate is 69.2%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Independence County, 18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 46.2% below the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 90.0% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 21.3 min.
Independence County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 82.1% of the population, followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.9%) and Two or More Races (5.3%).
All data for Independence County, Arkansas comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.