Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Arkansas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#50. Hempstead County
- Median household income: $45,484
--- 8.1% below state average, 30.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.6%
--- #2,559 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #775 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Miller County
- Median household income: $45,391
--- 8.3% below state average, 30.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.8%
--- #2,000 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.2%
--- #771 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. Union County
- Median household income: $45,293
--- 8.5% below state average, 30.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.3%
--- #1,734 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.0%
--- #758 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Perry County
- Median household income: $44,926
--- 9.2% below state average, 30.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.2%
--- #1,575 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.1%
--- #723 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Conway County
- Median household income: $44,456
--- 10.1% below state average, 31.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.9%
--- #690 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Cross County
- Median household income: $44,379
--- 10.3% below state average, 31.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.9%
--- #2,358 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #682 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Logan County
- Median household income: $44,232
--- 10.6% below state average, 31.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.5%
--- #2,922 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.5%
--- #668 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. White County
- Median household income: $44,000
--- 11.1% below state average, 32.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.2%
--- #2,106 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #649 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. Ashley County
- Median household income: $43,601
--- 11.9% below state average, 32.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
--- #2,767 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.6%
--- #617 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Baxter County
- Median household income: $43,504
--- 12.1% below state average, 33.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.3%
--- #2,726 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #607 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Mississippi County
- Median household income: $42,986
--- 13.1% below state average, 33.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.2%
--- #1,933 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.6%
--- #573 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Pike County
- Median household income: $42,983
--- 13.1% below state average, 33.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.3%
--- #2,267 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.8%
--- #572 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Drew County
- Median household income: $42,924
--- 13.2% below state average, 34.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,855 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.0%
--- #571 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. Randolph County
- Median household income: $42,844
--- 13.4% below state average, 34.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.3%
--- #2,937 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.7%
--- #562 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Izard County
- Median household income: $42,818
--- 13.5% below state average, 34.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.9%
--- #3,024 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.7%
--- #559 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Prairie County
- Median household income: $42,754
--- 13.6% below state average, 34.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.8%
--- #2,783 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.0%
--- #555 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Scott County
- Median household income: $42,635
--- 13.8% below state average, 34.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.4%
--- #2,818 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #544 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Crittenden County
- Median household income: $42,384
--- 14.3% below state average, 34.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.8%
--- #1,986 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.8%
--- #526 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Bradley County
- Median household income: $41,808
--- 15.5% below state average, 35.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.0%
--- #2,507 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.4%
--- #471 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Madison County
- Median household income: $41,446
--- 16.2% below state average, 36.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.6%
--- #2,565 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #444 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Montgomery County
- Median household income: $41,165
--- 16.8% below state average, 36.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,699 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.4%
--- #429 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. Poinsett County
- Median household income: $40,700
--- 17.7% below state average, 37.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.0%
--- #2,969 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.4%
--- #396 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Lawrence County
- Median household income: $40,587
--- 18.0% below state average, 37.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,956 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.7%
--- #388 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. Van Buren County
- Median household income: $40,442
--- 18.3% below state average, 37.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.4%
--- #2,928 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.5%
--- #382 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $40,402
--- 18.3% below state average, 37.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.9%
--- #2,658 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.3%
--- #380 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Woodruff County
- Median household income: $40,331
--- 18.5% below state average, 37.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.5%
--- #2,922 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.7%
--- #372 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Nevada County
- Median household income: $39,946
--- 19.3% below state average, 38.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.0%
--- #3,063 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.2%
--- #347 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Newton County
- Median household income: $39,542
--- 20.1% below state average, 39.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.4%
--- #3,049 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.3%
--- #329 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Clark County
- Median household income: $39,500
--- 20.2% below state average, 39.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
--- #2,532 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.6%
--- #327 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Johnson County
- Median household income: $39,346
--- 20.5% below state average, 39.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,949 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.4%
--- #319 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Polk County
- Median household income: $39,084
--- 21.0% below state average, 39.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.1%
--- #2,846 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.6%
--- #306 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Monroe County
- Median household income: $38,438
--- 22.3% below state average, 40.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
--- #2,788 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.3%
--- #281 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Marion County
- Median household income: $38,426
--- 22.3% below state average, 40.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.4%
--- #3,049 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #280 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Ouachita County
- Median household income: $38,279
--- 22.6% below state average, 41.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,704 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.1%
--- #271 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Howard County
- Median household income: $38,038
--- 23.1% below state average, 41.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
--- #2,882 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.2%
--- #260 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Clay County
- Median household income: $37,933
--- 23.3% below state average, 41.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.4%
--- #2,993 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.2%
--- #253 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Jackson County
- Median household income: $37,885
--- 23.4% below state average, 41.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,894 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.0%
--- #249 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Columbia County
- Median household income: $37,609
--- 24.0% below state average, 42.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,579 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.2%
--- #239 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Franklin County
- Median household income: $37,561
--- 24.1% below state average, 42.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.0%
--- #2,969 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.3%
--- #236 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. St. Francis County
- Median household income: $36,053
--- 27.1% below state average, 44.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.7%
--- #3,038 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 26.2%
--- #176 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Sharp County
- Median household income: $35,573
--- 28.1% below state average, 45.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 6.5%
--- #3,126 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.9%
--- #163 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Fulton County
- Median household income: $35,274
--- 28.7% below state average, 45.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,894 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.6%
--- #153 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. Dallas County
- Median household income: $35,134
--- 29.0% below state average, 45.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.6%
--- #2,987 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.1%
--- #148 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Lafayette County
- Median household income: $33,763
--- 31.8% below state average, 48.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.2%
--- #2,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.1%
--- #110 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Phillips County
- Median household income: $33,724
--- 31.8% below state average, 48.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.6%
--- #2,904 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 28.4%
--- #109 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Chicot County
- Median household income: $33,523
--- 32.2% below state average, 48.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.8%
--- #2,976 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.5%
--- #104 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Desha County
- Median household income: $31,855
--- 35.6% below state average, 51.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 8.1%
--- #3,088 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.2%
--- #68 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. Lee County
- Median household income: $27,902
--- 43.6% below state average, 57.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.5%
--- #2,989 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 31.3%
--- #21 highest among all counties nationwide
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