It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Arkansas where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
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#50. Searcy County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 3,327
- Median household income: $36,438
- Median monthly housing cost: $483
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#49. Scott County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,944
- Median household income: $36,092
- Median monthly housing cost: $479
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#48. Hot Spring County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 12,599
- Median household income: $43,889
- Median monthly housing cost: $588
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#47. Boone County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.2%
- Total occupied households: 15,034
- Median household income: $45,374
- Median monthly housing cost: $608
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#46. Arkansas County
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#45. Lafayette County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,784
- Median household income: $32,397
- Median monthly housing cost: $435
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#44. Fulton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 4,973
- Median household income: $35,405
- Median monthly housing cost: $478
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#43. Nevada County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 3,397
- Median household income: $38,042
- Median monthly housing cost: $515
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#42. Union County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
- Total occupied households: 15,726
- Median household income: $44,663
- Median monthly housing cost: $609
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#41. Saline County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 44,075
- Median household income: $64,412
- Median monthly housing cost: $882
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#40. Clay County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 6,444
- Median household income: $37,233
- Median monthly housing cost: $515
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#39. Ouachita County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 9,658
- Median household income: $35,425
- Median monthly housing cost: $495
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#38. Sharp County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.5%
- Total occupied households: 7,447
- Median household income: $34,671
- Median monthly housing cost: $487
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#37. Crawford County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 23,958
- Median household income: $46,828
- Median monthly housing cost: $670
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#36. Conway County
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#35. Independence County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 14,322
- Median household income: $44,319
- Median monthly housing cost: $636
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#34. Woodruff County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,932
- Median household income: $32,845
- Median monthly housing cost: $472
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#33. Hempstead County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 8,094
- Median household income: $42,860
- Median monthly housing cost: $616
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#32. Benton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.7%
- Total occupied households: 97,249
- Median household income: $66,362
- Median monthly housing cost: $961
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#31. Randolph County
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#30. Polk County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
- Total occupied households: 8,243
- Median household income: $37,974
- Median monthly housing cost: $554
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#29. Franklin County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 6,723
- Median household income: $38,923
- Median monthly housing cost: $568
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#28. Greene County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
- Total occupied households: 17,254
- Median household income: $47,056
- Median monthly housing cost: $687
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#27. Clark County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 8,446
- Median household income: $41,620
- Median monthly housing cost: $608
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#26. Marion County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 6,782
- Median household income: $36,719
- Median monthly housing cost: $537
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#25. Van Buren County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 6,813
- Median household income: $38,499
- Median monthly housing cost: $565
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#24. Lonoke County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 26,895
- Median household income: $59,094
- Median monthly housing cost: $870
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#23. Cross County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,653
- Median household income: $46,787
- Median monthly housing cost: $695
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#22. Howard County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 5,142
- Median household income: $36,059
- Median monthly housing cost: $537
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#21. Baxter County
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#20. Sebastian County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 51,228
- Median household income: $46,228
- Median monthly housing cost: $707
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#19. Mississippi County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 16,389
- Median household income: $39,962
- Median monthly housing cost: $612
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#18. Pope County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.1%
- Total occupied households: 22,579
- Median household income: $43,462
- Median monthly housing cost: $667
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#17. Jackson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 6,137
- Median household income: $34,109
- Median monthly housing cost: $525
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#16. Miller County
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#15. Chicot County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 4,068
- Median household income: $34,147
- Median monthly housing cost: $531
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#14. Johnson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,682
- Median household income: $38,511
- Median monthly housing cost: $600
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#13. Desha County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,204
- Median household income: $31,893
- Median monthly housing cost: $497
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#12. White County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 29,055
- Median household income: $44,029
- Median monthly housing cost: $687
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#11. St. Francis County
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#10. Faulkner County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 44,575
- Median household income: $52,827
- Median monthly housing cost: $851
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#9. Garland County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.8%
- Total occupied households: 40,209
- Median household income: $44,777
- Median monthly housing cost: $723
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#8. Columbia County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
- Total occupied households: 8,562
- Median household income: $36,193
- Median monthly housing cost: $585
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#7. Craighead County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 41,375
- Median household income: $47,286
- Median monthly housing cost: $767
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#6. Jefferson County
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#5. Washington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 87,325
- Median household income: $50,451
- Median monthly housing cost: $841
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#4. Lee County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
- Total occupied households: 3,206
- Median household income: $29,681
- Median monthly housing cost: $506
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#3. Pulaski County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.8%
- Total occupied households: 158,051
- Median household income: $51,749
- Median monthly housing cost: $892
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#2. Phillips County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.8%
- Total occupied households: 7,485
- Median household income: $29,320
- Median monthly housing cost: $532
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#1. Crittenden County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.4%
- Total occupied households: 19,074
- Median household income: $40,161
- Median monthly housing cost: $731
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