Arkansas · GEOID 05143

Washington County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 256,765 · 105,461 housing units

Median household income

$70,639

State $61,888

Median home value

$298,400

State $192,777

Median gross rent

$1,071

State $955

Homeownership rate

55.6%

State 66.4%

Renter cost-burden rate

44.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.9%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

7.8%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.22

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Washington County	Arkansas
Population	256,765	3,049,391
Population density (per sq. mi.)	272.73	—
Median household income	$70,639	$61,888
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$106,900	—
Households	97,184	—
Average household size	2.55 people	—
Owner-occupied	55.6%	66.4%
Renter-occupied	44.4%	33.6%
Race	62.7% White · 3.0% 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

Washington County compared with Arkansas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

35.2% 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	11.2%	$54,380	$1,360	$171,401
1 earner	34.2%	$57,738	$1,443	$183,901
2 earners	44.4%	$107,535	$2,688	$369,262
3+ earners	10.2%	$142,663	$3,567	$500,021

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

97,184

Average size: 2.55 people

Households with children

27,867

28.7% of households

Per-capita income

$38,150

Poverty rate: 14.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

55.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 66.9% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 22.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

26.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,995.00 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: $298,400.

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: $1,071.

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 8,277 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 4.4% · For rent 23.2% · Seasonal 7.9% · Other 50.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

41.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 58.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.6%

651 units of 105,461 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.0%

4,191 units of 105,461 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$56,511

100% MHI$70,639

120% MHI$84,767

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Washington 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	$59,850	$68,400	$85,500
100% AMI	$74,830	$85,520	$106,900
120% AMI	$89,800	$102,600	$128,300

HUD FMR Area: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA. 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

44.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.2% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.9% 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 Washington County.

Covered employment

120,322

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

6,993

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,681

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	18,992	$63,802	$206,473	−$91,927	$1,595
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	13,948	$41,415	$123,141	−$175,259	$1,035
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	13,486	$56,691	$180,004	−$118,396	$1,417
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	13,423	$60,409	$193,843	−$104,557	$1,510
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	13,299	$22,657	$53,318	−$245,082	$566
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	8,145	$70,493	$231,379	−$67,021	$1,762
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	6,055	$63,742	$206,250	−$92,150	$1,594
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	5,510	$41,545	$123,625	−$174,775	$1,039
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	4,960	$74,004	$244,448	−$53,952	$1,850
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	4,300	$153,366	$539,861	+$241,461	$3,834
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	4,110	$107,673	$369,776	+$71,376	$2,692
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	3,430	$63,243	$204,392	−$94,008	$1,581
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	3,086	$49,145	$151,915	−$146,485	$1,229
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	2,506	$87,008	$292,854	−$5,546	$2,175
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	1,741	$27,856	$72,670	−$225,730	$696
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	1,686	$51,978	$162,460	−$135,940	$1,299
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	951	$73,681	$243,246	−$55,154	$1,842
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	694	$92,025	$311,529	+$13,129	$2,301

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	13,423	$60,409	$193,843	−$104,557	$1,510
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	12,427	$22,138	$51,386	−$247,014	$553
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	7,113	$51,542	$160,837	−$137,563	$1,289
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	6,760	$76,162	$252,481	−$45,919	$1,904
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	6,473	$75,782	$251,067	−$47,333	$1,895
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	5,755	$64,256	$208,163	−$90,237	$1,606
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	5,102	$39,876	$117,413	−$180,987	$997
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	4,960	$74,004	$244,448	−$53,952	$1,850
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	4,300	$153,366	$539,861	+$241,461	$3,834
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	4,149	$62,993	$203,462	−$94,938	$1,575
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	3,149	$32,451	$89,774	−$208,626	$811
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	3,139	$29,531	$78,905	−$219,495	$738
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	2,890	$53,355	$167,586	−$130,814	$1,334
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	2,611	$39,885	$117,446	−$180,954	$997
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	2,424	$100,385	$342,648	+$44,248	$2,510
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,141	$61,628	$198,381	−$100,019	$1,541
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,869	$67,201	$219,125	−$79,275	$1,680
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	1,608	$93,263	$316,137	+$17,737	$2,332
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,547	$122,231	$423,966	+$125,566	$3,056
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,473	$82,298	$275,322	−$23,078	$2,057
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	1,438	$74,026	$244,530	−$53,870	$1,851
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,393	$26,325	$66,971	−$231,429	$658
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,384	$52,338	$163,800	−$134,600	$1,308
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	1,380	$59,515	$190,516	−$107,884	$1,488
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,234	$41,393	$123,059	−$175,341	$1,035
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,153	$24,799	$61,291	−$237,109	$620
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	1,115	$37,182	$107,385	−$191,015	$930
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,057	$26,712	$68,412	−$229,988	$668
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	954	$51,394	$160,286	−$138,114	$1,285
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	914	$65,229	$211,785	−$86,615	$1,631
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	871	$30,096	$81,008	−$217,392	$752
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	847	$57,149	$181,708	−$116,692	$1,429
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	789	$43,491	$130,869	−$167,531	$1,087
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	783	$69,476	$227,594	−$70,806	$1,737
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	771	$77,670	$258,095	−$40,305	$1,942
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	708	$27,917	$72,897	−$225,503	$698
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	694	$92,025	$311,529	+$13,129	$2,301
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	597	$48,168	$148,278	−$150,122	$1,204
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	531	$49,702	$153,988	−$144,412	$1,243
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	527	$55,644	$176,106	−$122,294	$1,391
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	477	$69,750	$228,614	−$69,786	$1,744
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	440	$50,023	$155,183	−$143,217	$1,251
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	408	$62,414	$201,307	−$97,093	$1,560
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	405	$60,754	$195,127	−$103,273	$1,519
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	404	$54,986	$173,657	−$124,743	$1,375
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	399	$72,223	$237,819	−$60,581	$1,806
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	321	$86,015	$289,158	−$9,242	$2,150
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	302	$50,326	$156,311	−$142,089	$1,258
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	285	$62,656	$202,207	−$96,193	$1,566
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	283	$40,626	$120,204	−$178,196	$1,016
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	253	$143,174	$501,923	+$203,523	$3,579
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	240	$85,253	$286,321	−$12,079	$2,131
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	222	$66,571	$216,780	−$81,620	$1,664
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	205	$52,706	$165,170	−$133,230	$1,318
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	171	$82,679	$276,740	−$21,660	$2,067
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	155	$41,697	$124,191	−$174,209	$1,042
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	145	$140,131	$490,596	+$192,196	$3,503
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	140	$72,221	$237,812	−$60,588	$1,806
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	139	$61,844	$199,185	−$99,215	$1,546
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	126	$52,947	$166,067	−$132,333	$1,324
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	116	$26,854	$68,940	−$229,460	$671
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	107	$63,635	$205,852	−$92,548	$1,591
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	93	$69,237	$226,704	−$71,696	$1,731
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	59	$28,484	$75,008	−$223,392	$712
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	50	$78,408	$260,842	−$37,558	$1,960
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	45	$41,486	$123,405	−$174,995	$1,037
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	43	$41,623	$123,915	−$174,485	$1,041
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	27	$41,734	$124,329	−$174,071	$1,043
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	24	$60,594	$194,532	−$103,868	$1,515
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	16	$51,044	$158,984	−$139,416	$1,276
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	10	$85,484	$287,181	−$11,219	$2,137
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	9	$78,894	$262,651	−$35,749	$1,972

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	8,370	3,700	79%	$13.57	$28,220	$74,025	$706
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	4,300	280	7%	$14.50	$30,160	$81,246	$754
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,610	(840)	(15%)	$14.55	$30,260	$81,618	$757
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	1,060	(650)	(38%)	$14.61	$30,390	$82,102	$760
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	4,200	500	14%	$15.88	$33,020	$91,892	$826
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	7,940	(1,170)	(13%)	$16.17	$33,620	$94,126	$841
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,320	(90)	(4%)	$17.17	$35,720	$101,942	$893
Tellers SOC 43-3071	720	(270)	(27%)	$18.94	$39,390	$115,603	$985
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,190	980	81%	$20.10	$41,810	$124,612	$1,045
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	6,110	1,040	21%	$20.21	$42,030	$125,430	$1,051
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	660	200	43%	$20.45	$42,530	$127,292	$1,063
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,490	570	30%	$23.22	$48,290	$148,732	$1,207
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	870	30	4%	$25.57	$53,190	$166,972	$1,330
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,130	250	28%	$25.75	$53,570	$168,386	$1,339
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,810	760	72%	$25.96	$53,990	$169,950	$1,350
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	830	470	131%	$26.09	$54,270	$170,992	$1,357
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	140	(130)	(48%)	$26.87	$55,890	$177,022	$1,397
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,380	350	17%	—	$61,290	$197,123	$1,532
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	7,500	(1,900)	(20%)	$30.36	$63,160	$204,083	$1,579
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,870	1,800	59%	$40.05	$83,300	$279,051	$2,083

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: 05143 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.