You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Arkansas.
The median household income in Benton County, the richest county in Arkansas is $85,269, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 75 counties in the Natural State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Arkansas For 2024
What is the richest county in Arkansas? The richest county in Arkansas is Benton County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Phillips County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Arkansas. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Arkansas and the cheapest places to live in Arkansas.
The Richest Counties In Arkansas For 2024
1. Benton County
Biggest Place: Springdale
Population: 286,528
Median Income: $85,269 (highest)
Median Home Price: $341,523 (highest)
More on Benton County: Data
2. Washington County
Biggest Place: Fayetteville
Population: 247,331
Median Income: $61,985 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $316,585 (2nd highest)
More on Washington County: Data
3. Saline County
Biggest Place: Benton
Population: 123,988
Median Income: $73,236 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $236,097 (6th highest)
More on Saline County: Data
4. Faulkner County
Biggest Place: Conway
Population: 124,611
Median Income: $61,273 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $234,339 (7th highest)
More on Faulkner County: Data
5. Lonoke County
Biggest Place: Cabot
Population: 74,292
Median Income: $68,078 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $212,764 (9th highest)
More on Lonoke County: Data
6. Carroll County
Biggest Place: Berryville
Population: 28,362
Median Income: $56,826 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $236,559 (5th highest)
More on Carroll County: Data
7. Grant County
Biggest Place: Sheridan
Population: 18,022
Median Income: $68,598 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $196,058 (15th highest)
More on Grant County: Data
8. Garland County
Biggest Place: Hot Springs
Population: 100,021
Median Income: $54,229 (16th highest)
Median Home Price: $238,295 (3rd highest)
More on Garland County: Data
9. Cleburne County
Biggest Place: Heber Springs
Population: 24,948
Median Income: $52,780 (20th highest)
Median Home Price: $238,126 (4th highest)
More on Cleburne County: Data
10. Pulaski County
Biggest Place: Little Rock
Population: 398,322
Median Income: $58,326 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $191,702 (17th highest)
More on Pulaski County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Arkansas county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Arkansas, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Arkansas for each of the criteria from one to 75, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Arkansas.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Natural State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Arkansas. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Arkansas For 2024
Living in Arkansas can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Arkansas are Benton County, Washington County, Saline County, Faulkner County, Lonoke County, Carroll County, Grant County, Garland County, Cleburne County, and Pulaski County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Arkansas according to the data:
- Phillips County
- Lee County
- Chicot County
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In Arkansas
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Best Counties To Live In Arkansas
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Arkansas
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benton County | 286,528 | $85,269 | $341,523 |
| 2 | Washington County | 247,331 | $61,985 | $316,585 |
| 3 | Saline County | 123,988 | $73,236 | $236,097 |
| 4 | Faulkner County | 124,611 | $61,273 | $234,339 |
| 5 | Lonoke County | 74,292 | $68,078 | $212,764 |
| 6 | Carroll County | 28,362 | $56,826 | $236,559 |
| 7 | Grant County | 18,022 | $68,598 | $196,058 |
| 8 | Garland County | 100,021 | $54,229 | $238,295 |
| 9 | Cleburne County | 24,948 | $52,780 | $238,126 |
| 10 | Pulaski County | 398,322 | $58,326 | $191,702 |
| 11 | Craighead County | 111,038 | $55,169 | $201,926 |
| 12 | Crawford County | 60,593 | $56,702 | $192,342 |
| 13 | Madison County | 16,737 | $51,514 | $229,986 |
| 14 | Boone County | 37,662 | $52,275 | $205,773 |
| 15 | Greene County | 45,954 | $54,879 | $176,303 |
| 16 | Sebastian County | 128,184 | $54,047 | $179,808 |
| 17 | Newton County | 7,243 | $50,699 | $204,452 |
| 18 | Pope County | 63,475 | $51,678 | $185,921 |
| 19 | White County | 77,118 | $51,144 | $183,456 |
| 20 | Baxter County | 41,801 | $47,403 | $210,962 |
| 21 | Independence County | 37,910 | $52,361 | $150,190 |
| 22 | Yell County | 20,342 | $55,879 | $142,837 |
| 23 | Little River County | 12,024 | $58,627 | $135,785 |
| 24 | Sevier County | 15,913 | $53,567 | $145,727 |
| 25 | Perry County | 10,055 | $53,980 | $143,073 |
| 26 | Conway County | 20,782 | $50,282 | $152,666 |
| 27 | Polk County | 19,384 | $48,449 | $164,386 |
| 28 | Pike County | 10,205 | $49,248 | $162,054 |
| 29 | Arkansas County | 17,024 | $58,695 | $110,414 |
| 30 | Crittenden County | 47,945 | $51,860 | $142,906 |
| 31 | Calhoun County | 4,773 | $60,237 | $105,664 |
| 32 | Montgomery County | 8,555 | $47,103 | $181,474 |
| 33 | Logan County | 21,247 | $51,131 | $144,397 |
| 34 | Hot Spring County | 33,129 | $50,260 | $147,119 |
| 35 | Miller County | 42,682 | $47,613 | $160,328 |
| 36 | Franklin County | 17,160 | $47,695 | $154,141 |
| 37 | Marion County | 16,905 | $42,891 | $201,697 |
| 38 | Cleveland County | 7,548 | $48,913 | $137,780 |
| 39 | Clark County | 21,469 | $48,071 | $138,953 |
| 40 | Van Buren County | 15,900 | $45,768 | $151,939 |
| 41 | Izard County | 13,748 | $46,159 | $147,359 |
| 42 | Union County | 38,815 | $49,745 | $116,820 |
| 43 | Lincoln County | 13,016 | $50,526 | $109,413 |
| 44 | Cross County | 16,827 | $48,129 | $130,526 |
| 45 | Drew County | 17,309 | $44,968 | $148,801 |
| 46 | Johnson County | 25,925 | $42,470 | $161,470 |
| 47 | Columbia County | 22,707 | $47,441 | $126,262 |
| 48 | Fulton County | 12,183 | $38,917 | $162,150 |
| 49 | Stone County | 12,393 | $37,664 | $173,062 |
| 50 | Searcy County | 7,880 | $42,063 | $150,438 |
| 51 | Mississippi County | 40,361 | $50,012 | $86,820 |
| 52 | Prairie County | 8,217 | $47,045 | $121,186 |
| 53 | Randolph County | 18,619 | $45,993 | $130,797 |
| 54 | Scott County | 9,871 | $45,340 | $132,210 |
| 55 | Howard County | 12,779 | $44,824 | $135,261 |
| 56 | Sharp County | 17,422 | $43,332 | $136,275 |
| 57 | Woodruff County | 6,259 | $49,608 | $73,008 |
| 58 | Ouachita County | 22,606 | $47,348 | $90,308 |
| 59 | Hempstead County | 20,037 | $45,049 | $105,798 |
| 60 | Jefferson County | 66,934 | $46,855 | $90,465 |
| 61 | Lawrence County | 16,258 | $43,606 | $110,747 |
| 62 | Poinsett County | 22,997 | $43,440 | $109,526 |
| 63 | Clay County | 14,537 | $44,685 | $95,809 |
| 64 | Bradley County | 10,461 | $43,688 | $91,075 |
| 65 | Nevada County | 8,292 | $43,421 | $104,415 |
| 66 | Ashley County | 19,018 | $44,804 | $79,837 |
| 67 | St. Francis County | 23,138 | $39,822 | $101,102 |
| 68 | Lafayette County | 6,277 | $40,262 | $83,117 |
| 69 | Dallas County | 6,472 | $40,085 | $80,827 |
| 70 | Jackson County | 16,784 | $41,929 | $78,451 |
| 71 | Desha County | 11,285 | $38,067 | $80,429 |
| 72 | Monroe County | 6,787 | $41,786 | $72,006 |
| 73 | Chicot County | 10,234 | $36,593 | $79,970 |
| 74 | Lee County | 8,666 | $33,801 | $78,652 |
| 75 | Phillips County | 16,373 | $37,458 | $45,503 |