Arkansas · GEOID 05103

Ouachita County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 22,085 · 11,869 housing units

Median household income

$49,268

State $61,888

Median home value

$102,100

State $192,777

Median gross rent

$764

State $955

Homeownership rate

70.9%

State 66.4%

Renter cost-burden rate

50.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

12.8%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

27.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.07

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Ouachita County	Arkansas
Population	22,085	3,049,391
Population density (per sq. mi.)	30.14	—
Median household income	$49,268	$61,888
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$65,600	—
Households	8,624	—
Average household size	2.52 people	—
Owner-occupied	70.9%	66.4%
Renter-occupied	29.1%	33.6%
Race	54.6% White · 40.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Ouachita County compared with Arkansas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

16.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 25.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	25.4%	$33,189	$830	$92,521
1 earner	36.6%	$46,532	$1,163	$142,188
2 earners	30.7%	$112,371	$2,809	$387,263
3+ earners	7.3%	$120,114	$3,003	$416,086

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

8,624

Average size: 2.52 people

Households with children

1,764

20.5% of households

Per-capita income

$27,803

Poverty rate: 15.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

70.9% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 75.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

61.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,974.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $102,100.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $764.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 3,245 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.4% · For rent 11.8% · Seasonal 54.9% · Other 11.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

33.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 66.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

15.0%

1,782 units of 11,869 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.2%

377 units of 11,869 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$39,414

100% MHI$49,268

120% MHI$59,122

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Ouachita County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$39,850	$45,550	$56,900
100% AMI	$45,920	$52,480	$65,600
120% AMI	$55,100	$63,000	$78,700

HUD FMR Area: Ouachita County, AR. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

50.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Ouachita County.

Covered employment

5,692

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

542

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$45,458

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,094	$64,542	$209,228	+$107,128	$1,614
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	925	$27,934	$72,960	−$29,140	$698
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	797	$43,883	$132,328	+$30,228	$1,097
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	492	$49,181	$152,049	+$49,949	$1,230
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	461	$17,779	$35,160	−$66,940	$444
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	357	$45,931	$139,951	+$37,851	$1,148
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	344	$50,847	$158,250	+$56,150	$1,271
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	253	$54,126	$170,456	+$68,356	$1,353
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	214	$34,865	$98,760	−$3,340	$872
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	158	$54,444	$171,640	+$69,540	$1,361
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	126	$58,909	$188,260	+$86,160	$1,473
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	114	$39,350	$115,455	+$13,355	$984
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	105	$72,244	$237,897	+$135,797	$1,806
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	81	$68,942	$225,606	+$123,506	$1,724
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	71	$34,115	$95,968	−$6,132	$853
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	46	$42,222	$126,145	+$24,045	$1,056
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	31	$43,362	$130,389	+$28,289	$1,084
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	23	$21,774	$50,031	−$52,069	$544

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	797	$43,883	$132,328	+$30,228	$1,097
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	436	$65,256	$211,885	+$109,785	$1,631
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	417	$17,600	$34,494	−$67,606	$440
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	361	$116,276	$401,799	+$299,699	$2,907
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	325	$30,596	$82,869	−$19,231	$765
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	288	$45,877	$139,750	+$37,650	$1,147
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	284	$37,260	$107,675	+$5,575	$932
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	247	$46,218	$141,020	+$38,920	$1,155
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	167	$44,926	$136,210	+$34,110	$1,123
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	141	$21,845	$50,295	−$51,805	$546
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	139	$48,984	$151,316	+$49,216	$1,225
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	136	$48,638	$150,028	+$47,928	$1,216
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	136	$23,012	$54,639	−$47,461	$575
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	114	$60,396	$193,795	+$91,695	$1,510
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	109	$51,340	$160,085	+$57,985	$1,284
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	105	$72,244	$237,897	+$135,797	$1,806
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	101	$23,669	$57,085	−$45,015	$592
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	84	$34,400	$97,029	−$5,071	$860
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	65	$28,375	$74,602	−$27,498	$709
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	57	$42,730	$128,036	+$25,936	$1,068
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	56	$63,394	$204,954	+$102,854	$1,585
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	54	$40,985	$121,541	+$19,441	$1,025
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	54	$38,554	$112,492	+$10,392	$964
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	53	$76,990	$255,563	+$153,463	$1,925
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	51	$30,613	$82,932	−$19,168	$765
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	49	$59,786	$191,524	+$89,424	$1,495
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	44	$19,476	$41,477	−$60,623	$487
NAICS 213 Support activities for mining NAICS 213	42	$45,986	$140,156	+$38,056	$1,150
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	42	$18,468	$37,725	−$64,375	$462
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	40	$31,544	$86,398	−$15,702	$789
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	39	$95,004	$322,618	+$220,518	$2,375
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	36	$56,971	$181,046	+$78,946	$1,424
NAICS 211 Oil and gas extraction NAICS 211	36	$71,155	$233,844	+$131,744	$1,779
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	36	$53,802	$169,250	+$67,150	$1,345
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	29	$51,857	$162,010	+$59,910	$1,296
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	27	$29,782	$79,839	−$22,261	$745
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	12	$16,669	$31,028	−$71,072	$417
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	11	$51,596	$161,038	+$58,938	$1,290
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	11	$27,343	$70,760	−$31,340	$684
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	9	$31,720	$87,053	−$15,047	$793
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	5	$21,826	$50,224	−$51,876	$546
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	3	$60,188	$193,021	+$90,921	$1,505

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	3,150	1,070	51%	$12.08	$25,120	$62,486	$628
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	950	10	1%	$12.57	$26,150	$66,320	$654
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	350	(300)	(46%)	$12.88	$26,790	$68,702	$670
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,150	(150)	(5%)	$12.90	$26,840	$68,888	$671
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,850	570	45%	$14.96	$31,120	$84,820	$778
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,560	(20)	(1%)	$15.11	$31,420	$85,936	$786
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,800	(1,090)	(38%)	$15.78	$32,820	$91,148	$821
Tellers SOC 43-3071	590	(110)	(16%)	$16.75	$34,840	$98,667	$871
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,550	0	0%	$18.01	$37,470	$108,457	$937
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	950	260	38%	$18.64	$38,760	$113,258	$969
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	260	70	37%	$18.90	$39,320	$115,343	$983
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	690	230	50%	$21.57	$44,870	$136,002	$1,122
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,570	160	11%	$22.15	$46,060	$140,431	$1,152
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,830	(500)	(15%)	$23.57	$49,020	$151,450	$1,226
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	210	30	17%	$23.88	$49,680	$153,906	$1,242
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	290	(90)	(24%)	$24.20	$50,340	$156,363	$1,259
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,390	140	11%	—	$52,100	$162,914	$1,303
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	150	(110)	(42%)	$25.37	$52,780	$165,446	$1,320
Electricians SOC 47-2111	530	(110)	(17%)	$27.11	$56,380	$178,846	$1,410
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,980	590	42%	$36.52	$75,960	$251,729	$1,899

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 05103 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.