County profile · Arkansas
Howard County, AR market data
How Howard County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 12,306
- −3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,098
- Median household income
- $45,603
- +26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $153,900
- Jobs located here
- 6,243
- Highest market score
- 49
- Auto repair shops, #1,206 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Howard County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Howard County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Howard County has an estimated 12,306 people and 5,098 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Howard County declined 3.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Howard County is $45,603, 44% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Howard County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (47).
Of the business types scored in Howard County, auto repair shops (49); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (39); and medical and dental practices (33) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #1,206 of 2,378 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (44% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Howard County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Howard County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 49 | #1,206 of 2,378 | 6 | 11.8 | $752K | 169 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 39 | #1,533 of 2,210 | 5 | 9.8 | $1.5M | 175 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 33 | #1,964 of 2,394 | 24 | 47.1 | $190K | 125 | 10 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 32 | #1,766 of 2,222 | 5 | 9.8 | $2.9M | 96 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #1,956 of 2,176 | 7 | 13.7 | Index only | 168 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,010 of 2,405 | 40 | 78.5 | $367K | 99 | 20 |
| Real estate | 30 | #2,058 of 2,229 | 9 | 17.7 | Index only | 165 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 29 | #2,055 of 2,401 | 21 | 41.2 | $215K | 80 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 27 | #1,950 of 2,200 | 5 | 9.8 | $681K | 77 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 27 | #2,093 of 2,339 | 8 | 15.7 | $448K | 104 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 26 | #2,075 of 2,358 | 10 | 19.6 | $1.5M | 63 | 10 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 23 | #2,247 of 2,405 | 26 | 51.0 | $565K | 85 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 19 | #2,105 of 2,272 | 17 | 33.3 | $768K | 61 | 12 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 19 | #2,239 of 2,402 | 20 | 39.2 | $1.3M | 39 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 15 | #2,018 of 2,088 | 5 | 9.8 | $468K | 71 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 11 | #1,998 of 2,070 | 5 | 9.8 | $5.3M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 8 | #2,056 of 2,063 | 6 | 11.8 | $2.4M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 8 | #2,377 of 2,385 | 21 | 41.2 | $171K | 80 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 4 | #2,249 of 2,261 | 13 | 25.5 | $2M | 26 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 3 | #1,767 of 1,769 | 8 | 15.7 | $448K | 51 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $363K | 36 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $1.9M | 151 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $585K | 45 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 64 | 4 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $4.9M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.2M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 155 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $244K | 36 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $7.3M | Too few | 10 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $11.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $7.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $11.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
Household spending in Howard County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $4.5M | $885 | 92 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $15.1M | $2,962 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $14.7M | $2,883 | 71 |
| Groceries | $26.4M | $5,171 | 82 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.6M | $703 | 70 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.5M | $285 | 49 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2.3M | $459 | 47 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.6M | $895 | 69 |
| Pets | $3.4M | $668 | 73 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $7.7M | $1,508 | 73 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.1M | $2,562 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $11.7M | $2,286 | 76 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.1M | $1,195 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $64.1M | $12,582 | 76 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Howard County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 12,306−3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,098
- Median age
- 38.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 587 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 21
- Median household income
- $45,603+26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $62,719
- Median home value
- $153,900
- Jobs located here
- 6,243
- Daytime population
- 13,655Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Howard County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Howard County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Arkansas 8
- Pike County, AR10,115 people
- Sevier County, AR15,712 people
- Little River County, AR11,821 people
- Hempstead County, AR19,508 people
- Nevada County, AR8,159 people
- Montgomery County, AR8,553 people
- Miller County, AR42,360 people
- Polk County, AR19,361 people
Questions
How fast is Howard County, AR growing?
Population estimates put Howard County at 12,306 people in 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,098 households. Median household income rose 26.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Howard County, AR spend?
Households in Howard County spend about $64.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $26.4M on groceries and $15.1M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Howard County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (47).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Howard County, AR?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Howard County are for auto repair shops (49); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (39); and medical and dental practices (33). Howard County ranks #1,206 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
How does Howard County, AR compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Howard County is $45,603 a year, 44% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $153,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Howard County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (44% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 20 of the 56 business types have a score in Howard County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Howard County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Arkansas · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Howard County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Howard County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.