Cost of Living in Howard County, Arkansas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Howard County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Howard County ranks #328 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 10%)
Sourced county brief
Howard County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $690 Monthly
In Howard County, the median gross rent was $690 per month according to 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates, which is $84 lower than the Arkansas unweighted county mean of $774. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or rentBurdenGrapiPct, was 32.2%. This is 3.8 percentage points higher than the Arkansas unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.4%. The median renter-household income was recorded at $27,177. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner costs were $622, below the state unweighted county mean of $663. The median home value in the county was $153,900, which is higher than the Arkansas unweighted county mean of $141,465. These values are sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119. Data version is acs5-2020-2024 and methodology version is cost-brief-v1. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Howard County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.2% of renter household income in Howard County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $690 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $622. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Arkansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $774 per month. Howard County's $690 median is 10.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Howard County
Rent Burden
18.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,064
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.4%
of gross income
The median home in Howard County may be a stretch
Median home value is $153,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,229 vs. your max of $1,064.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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