countyscore
44.9
County Score
Cost of Living 86.8Property Tax 71.1Disaster Risk 66.8

County Report Card

About Lafayette County, Arkansas

Lafayette slightly below national median

Lafayette County's composite score of 46.5 falls just 3.5 points below the national median of 50.0, placing it near the midpoint of U.S. county livability. The score reflects a county with mixed strengths and weaknesses across different dimensions.

Comparable to Arkansas average

At 46.5, Lafayette County sits 1.4 points below the Arkansas state average of 47.9, performing roughly in line with the state's typical county. The close-to-average ranking indicates a county without distinctive advantages or severe disadvantages.

Affordability and tax benefits abound

Lafayette County excels in cost efficiency with a score of 89.3 and median home values of just $74,600, paired with a tax score of 78.5 and effective rate of 0.566%. The combination provides exceptional household budget relief for residents.

Incomes and water quality suffer

The county's income score of 1.7 reflects median household income of only $37,237, the lowest among these counties and severely limiting economic prospects. Water quality concerns (5.9) and health outcomes (16.9) round out a troubling dimension of the livability picture.

A budget option with trade-offs

Lafayette County appeals to extremely cost-conscious individuals willing to accept low incomes and water quality challenges for ultra-affordable housing. Prospective residents should investigate water quality issues and income-generating opportunities before committing.

2040608010071.186.827.616.9302.866.85.945Tax71.1Cost86.8Safety27.6Health16.9Schools30Income2.8Risk66.8Water5.9Weather4544.9/100
This county
National avg
3 above average6 below average

Lafayette County DNA

Foverall

How Lafayette County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Lafayette County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (86.8/100) but notably weak in Water Quality (5.9/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
71.1+19.099999999999994
Cost
86.8+38.8
Safety
27.6-27.4
Health
16.9-33.1
Schools
30-24
Income
2.8-48.2
Risk
66.8+19.799999999999997
Water
5.9-52.1
Weather
45-11
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Lafayette County?

Many homeowners in Lafayette County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

Check My Assessment

Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$81,000

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$755/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$81,000/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$30,200/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.0x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $41,278/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
Compare Lafayette County with Indian River County →Share on X

Counties with similar scores

Indian River County
Florida
Median income: $73,491
44.9
Massac County
Illinois
Median income: $65,116
44.9
Barton County
Missouri
Median income: $51,635
44.9
Sarpy County
Nebraska
Median income: $103,321
44.9
Adair County
Oklahoma
Median income: $48,041
44.9
Butte County
South Dakota
Median income: $75,652
44.9
Lamb County
Texas
Median income: $60,760
44.9
Douglas County
Washington
Median income: $80,363
44.9

Nearby counties

Miller County
Arkansas
34.7
Columbia County
Arkansas
49.7
Nevada County
Arkansas
52.8
Hempstead County
Arkansas
40.8
Webster Parish
Louisiana
58.2
Cass County
Texas
48.9
Bossier Parish
Louisiana
36.1
Little River County
Arkansas
55

Deep Dives

Lafayette County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Lafayette County

via TaxByCounty

Lafayette's taxes rank among nation's lowest

Lafayette County's 0.566% effective property tax rate places it in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, well below the national median of 0.72%. Residents enjoy some of the country's lowest property tax burdens.

Lafayette slightly above Arkansas average

At 0.566%, Lafayette's rate edges above Arkansas's state average of 0.532%, positioning it in the middle tier of the state's 75 counties. The difference is minimal, just 0.034 percentage points above the state norm.

Lafayette rate competitive across region

Lafayette's 0.566% matches Jackson and Johnson counties' rates while exceeding Lawrence's 0.488%, showing regional consistency. Across southwest Arkansas, property tax rates cluster narrowly between 0.49% and 0.63%.

Median home tax bill: $422 annually

With a median home value of $74,600, Lafayette homeowners pay $422 per year in property taxes, among the lowest statewide. Including mortgage adjustments, the annual cost rises to approximately $574.

Check your assessment and appeal if needed

Many Arkansas homeowners discover their properties are assessed above market value when they finally review their records. The county assessor's office will evaluate your challenge at no cost and can substantially reduce your tax bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lafayette County

via IncomeByCounty

Lafayette faces steepest income gap

Lafayette County's median household income of $37,237 is the lowest among these eight counties and trails the US median of $74,755 by 50%. This profound gap reflects Lafayette's economic fragility and limited wage-earning opportunities.

Arkansas's income basement

Lafayette ranks among Arkansas's lowest-income counties, earning $13,919 less than the state average of $51,156. With a per capita income of just $22,393—the lowest in this group—Lafayette struggles with limited employment and wage diversity.

Lowest earner in its peer group

Lafayette's $37,237 median income significantly underperforms all neighbors: Lee County ($36,860) ties it at the bottom, while Jackson ($41,215), Lawrence ($44,164), and Johnson ($44,808) all earn substantially more. This consistent underperformance signals structural economic disadvantage in the county.

Housing costs consume tight budgets

At 22.9%, Lafayette's rent-to-income ratio is the highest among peer counties, meaning households spend nearly a quarter of earnings on housing. With a median home value of just $74,600, even ownership becomes challenging for many families given the low income base.

Lafayette: building wealth from scratch

With limited discretionary income, Lafayette residents should focus first on debt reduction and emergency savings, even $25–50 monthly. Community credit unions, free financial counseling, and employer benefits (if available) provide low-barrier paths to financial stability; compound growth happens slowly but steadily with consistency.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Lafayette County

via CrimeByCounty

Strong National Safety Rankings

Lafayette County enjoys a safety score of 97.2, placing it well above the national average for security. Its total crime rate of 1,752.4 per 100,000 is significantly lower than the U.S. average of 2,385.5.

Outperforming the Arkansas State Average

With a safety score of 97.2, Lafayette performs better than the Arkansas state average of 96.3. The local crime rate of 1,752.4 is also much lower than the state's typical 2,326.8.

Consistency Across Four Local Agencies

Lafayette County reports slightly more crime than Johnson County but remains far safer than the state average. Four reporting agencies collaborate to track these statistics across the county's communities.

Analyzing Local Crime Distributions

Property crime sits at 1,131.1 per 100,000, which is almost half the national average. However, the violent crime rate of 621.3 is higher than the national average, warranting local awareness.

Focus on Personal and Property Safety

Since violent crime is higher than national norms despite low property theft, personal safety awareness is key. Consider installing a video doorbell to monitor your home's perimeter.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Lafayette County

via WeatherByCounty

Extreme Southern Warmth in Lafayette County

Lafayette County averages 63.8°F annually, making it much warmer than the national median. This region experiences a true subtropical climate with very little winter influence.

One of the Warmest Spots in Arkansas

At 63.8°F, the county is nearly three degrees warmer than the Arkansas average of 61.0°F. It represents the southern extreme of the state's temperature spectrum.

Abundant Rainfall for the Southern Border

The county receives 53.0 inches of annual precipitation, exceeding the state average of 52.4 inches. This high moisture level contributes to intense humidity during the long summer months.

Persistent Heat and Rare Snowfall

Lafayette County endures a staggering 79 days of extreme heat over 90°F annually. Snow is rare, with only 1.8 inches falling on average, while July temperatures hover around 82.0°F.

Plan for Sustained High Temperatures

With nearly 80 days of extreme heat, heavy-duty cooling systems and heat-resistant landscaping are essential investments. Residents must also manage the 53.0 inches of annual rain with effective property drainage.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Lafayette County

via SoilByCounty

Southern Arkansas Soil Identity

Lafayette County lacks specific centralized data for taxonomic order and pH averages in the current dataset. However, being in the southern tier of the state, it generally features soils that are more acidic than the national 6.5 median. Local testing is recommended to determine the exact acidity of your land.

Local Texture Characteristics

While sand, silt, and clay percentages are not recorded here, the region typically boasts varied textures from sandy uplands to silty bottomlands. This diversity allows for a range of agricultural uses across the county. Understanding your local texture helps determine how much water your garden will need.

Organic Potential and Health

Current data for organic matter and water capacity is unavailable for this specific county. Farmers in this area usually aim to meet or exceed the state average of 4.15% organic matter to ensure high productivity. Maintaining soil health through rotation and organic amendments remains a best practice here.

Water Dynamics in Lafayette

Specific drainage and hydrologic group classifications are currently unlisted for the county. Proper site assessment is vital for any project, as the local water table can vary significantly near the Red River. Observation of how your land handles heavy rain is the best way to understand its drainage.

Warm Growth in Zone 8b

As part of USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, Lafayette County enjoys some of the warmest temperatures and longest growing seasons in Arkansas. You can grow heat-loving crops like citrus in protected areas or produce multiple rounds of summer vegetables. Get outside and take advantage of this nearly year-round growing potential.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Lafayette County

via LawnByCounty

Intense Heat Challenges South Arkansas Lawns

Lafayette County faces a difficult lawn care environment with a score of 28.8. Situated in hardiness zone 8b, the combination of extreme heat and high humidity makes it much tougher than the national median of 50.0.

Extreme Heat Defines the Mowing Season

The county endures 79 extreme heat days annually, far exceeding the state average of 64. With 5,760 growing degree days, your lawn will grow aggressively in the spring and fall but may struggle during the peak of summer.

Prioritize Testing for Unknown Soils

Comprehensive soil data is currently unavailable for Lafayette County. Given the high annual rainfall of 53.0 inches, local soils often trend toward acidity, making a local extension office soil test a vital first step.

Managing 59% Severe Drought Area

Currently, 59.4% of the county suffers from severe drought, following a year with 22 drought-impacted weeks. Focus on deep watering at dawn to minimize evaporation and keep roots healthy during these dry periods.

Thriving in a Warm 8b Zone

Centipede or Bermuda grass are the best bets for surviving 79 days of 90-degree heat. With a first frost not expected until November 12, the long growing season provides ample time for new sod to take hold.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lafayette County's county score?
Lafayette County, Arkansas has a composite county score of 44.9 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Lafayette County rank among counties in Arkansas?
Lafayette County ranks #47 among all counties in Arkansas on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Lafayette County, Arkansas?
The median annual property tax in Lafayette County is $494, with an effective tax rate of 0.61%. This earns Lafayette County a tax score of 71.1/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Lafayette County?
The median household income in Lafayette County, Arkansas is $41,278 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Lafayette County earns an income score of 2.8/100 on CountyScore.
Is Lafayette County, Arkansas a good place to live?
Lafayette County scores 44.9/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #47 in Arkansas. The best way to evaluate Lafayette County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Lafayette County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.