CountyScore

Ouachita County

Arkansas · AR

#29 in Arkansas
71.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Ouachita County, Arkansas

Above national average livability

Ouachita County scores 71.5, exceeding the national median of 50.0 by 43 percentage points. The county demonstrates solid livability across most dimensions compared to U.S. standards.

In line with Arkansas norms

At 71.5, Ouachita County scores just above the Arkansas state average of 70.3, placing it in the middle range of state counties. It reflects typical livability benchmarks for rural Arkansas.

Strong affordability and reasonable income

Ouachita County combines excellent cost affordability (score 86.7) with the highest income score (15.9) in this group, reflecting median household earnings of $49,838. Housing costs under $100,600 median value keep financial burdens manageable.

Risk score indicates environmental concerns

The risk score of 48.8 is the lowest among these eight counties, suggesting elevated exposure to natural disasters, flooding, or other environmental hazards. This significant vulnerability warrants careful consideration for families with limited disaster recovery resources.

Good value—with environmental caveats

Ouachita County suits budget-conscious households comfortable with modest income levels and willing to accept higher environmental risk. The combination of low costs and decent local earnings makes it viable for careful planners, but not ideal for risk-averse families.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax88.2Cost86.7SafetyComing SoonHealth60.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome15.9Risk48.8WaterComing Soon
🏛88.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼15.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤60.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡48.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Ouachita County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bullock County
Alabama
71.5
Median income: $36,723
Cherokee County
Alabama
71.5
Median income: $50,769
Bradley County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $39,565
Franklin County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $51,919
Fulton County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $38,941

Deep Dives

Ouachita County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Ouachita County

via TaxByCounty

Ouachita County taxes well below U.S. median

Ouachita County's effective tax rate of 0.502% and median property tax of $500 represent only about one-fifth the national median property tax of $2,690. Residents here enjoy one of the lowest property tax burdens in the nation, even compared to other low-tax states.

Below-average rate statewide

Ouachita County's 0.502% effective rate runs 0.030 percentage points below Arkansas's 0.532% state average. The median property tax of $500 is $205 lower than the state's $705 median, reflecting both rate and value advantages.

Among the most tax-friendly in southern Arkansas

Ouachita County's 0.502% rate compares favorably to Nevada County (0.539%), Perry County (0.520%), Pike County (0.559%), and Phillips County (0.656%). Only Montgomery County (0.384%) and Newton County (0.408%) offer lower rates in the eight-county region.

Median homeowner pays $500 yearly

A typical Ouachita County home valued at $99,600 translates to roughly $500 in annual property tax under the 0.502% rate. With a mortgage, the figure rises to $568; without, it drops to $417—among the lowest in the state.

Appeal if your assessment exceeds market value

Ouachita County homeowners should review their assessed values against recent comparable sales to catch potential overassessments. A successful appeal could reduce your annual bill by tens or even hundreds of dollars over the life of homeownership.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Ouachita County

via CostByCounty

Ouachita punches above its weight

Ouachita County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% sits below both the national average and Arkansas's 18.1% state average, despite a median household income of $49,838 (33% below the U.S. average). The county's $714 rent creates genuine affordability for a lower-income region.

Ouachita ranks solidly in Arkansas

Ouachita's 17.2% rent-to-income ratio beats the state average of 18.1%, positioning the county among Arkansas's more affordable options. At $714 monthly rent, Ouachita remains competitive statewide while maintaining reasonable incomes above $49,000.

Ouachita balances rent and income well

Ouachita's $714 rent undercuts Montgomery ($734) and Nevada ($841) while exceeding Newton ($629), striking a middle ground regionally. With a median income of $49,838, Ouachita residents maintain better earning power than Nevada ($41,761) while enjoying comparable rents.

Ouachita's housing split between renters and owners

Renters pay $714 monthly while homeowners spend $589, with both dedicating roughly 17% of their $49,838 income to housing. This balanced burden allows households to manage other expenses without extreme financial stress.

Ouachita works for balanced budgeting

Ouachita offers solid affordability with rents below the state average and a rent-to-income ratio that beats Arkansas's median. If you're seeking stable, predictable housing costs in a region with modest but adequate incomes, Ouachita merits consideration.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Ouachita County

via IncomeByCounty

Ouachita's income significantly below national

Ouachita County's median household income of $49,838 trails the national median of $74,755 by $24,917, or 33%. This income gap reflects broader economic patterns in rural Arkansas where wage growth lags national averages.

Slightly below Arkansas median

Ouachita ranks near the middle of Arkansas counties with a median household income of $49,838, roughly $1,300 below the state median of $51,156. Per capita income of $26,339 is lower than the state average of $28,096, suggesting wealth concentration issues.

Comparable to surrounding counties

Ouachita's $49,838 ranks above Nevada ($41,761), Phillips ($38,874), and Poinsett County ($47,188), but below Pike ($51,000) and Perry County ($60,078). The county is tightly clustered with Montgomery County ($49,015) in regional income standings.

Affordable housing landscape

With a rent-to-income ratio of 17.2%, Ouachita offers reasonable housing affordability for renters and buyers. The median home value of $99,600 is among the lowest in the region, creating entry points for first-time homeowners.

Build assets in Ouachita

Ouachita households earning $49,838 should prioritize down payments on affordable homes and employer retirement benefits to build long-term wealth. The low median home price creates an opportunity to build home equity without overleveraging.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Ouachita County

via HealthByCounty

Ouachita County's life expectancy below national

At 70.8 years, Ouachita County residents live nearly 5 years less than the U.S. average of 76.1 years. One in four residents (25.4%) report poor or fair health, pointing to significant chronic disease burden despite the county's robust healthcare provider infrastructure.

Lowest life expectancy in sample

Ouachita County's 70.8-year life expectancy is the lowest among these Arkansas counties and trails the state average of 72.3 years by 1.5 years. With 25.4% reporting poor or fair health, Ouachita faces serious public health challenges requiring coordinated intervention.

Health crisis despite provider availability

Ouachita County has the shortest lifespan (70.8 years) in the region, underperforming even Montgomery County (71.9 years) despite having significantly more healthcare providers. Its 7.9% uninsured rate is better than state average, yet health outcomes remain poor—suggesting access alone doesn't guarantee better health.

Abundant providers, persistent health crisis

Ouachita County boasts 58 primary care providers and 179 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—among the region's highest concentrations. Despite this provider density, the county's poor life expectancy and high poor/fair health rate (25.4%) suggest barriers to effective care coordination or underlying social determinants driving poor outcomes.

Leverage healthcare resources available

Ouachita County's healthcare infrastructure is strong—take advantage by scheduling preventive care and addressing chronic conditions early. If cost is a barrier, verify your coverage options at healthcare.gov; with 7.9% uninsured, most residents can access care, but ensuring active insurance helps you use these resources effectively.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Ouachita County

via RiskByCounty

Ouachita County faces above-average national risks

Ouachita County scores 51.21, placing it in the Relatively Low category but above the national average for composite risk. This elevation reflects notably higher exposure to certain natural hazards, particularly earthquakes and tornadoes.

Mid-range risk within Arkansas

At 51.21, Ouachita County sits just below Arkansas's average of 55.51, positioning it roughly in the middle of state risk rankings. The county's profile reflects moderate exposure to multiple hazard types, particularly earthquake and tornado threats.

Higher risk than surrounding counties

Ouachita County's 51.21 score significantly exceeds nearby Nevada County (30.57), Perry County (28.05), and Pike County (26.56). This difference makes Ouachita a notable risk outlier within its region, driven primarily by earthquake and tornado exposure.

Tornadoes and earthquakes demand attention

Ouachita County faces substantial tornado risk at 70.07 and extreme earthquake risk at 79.87, making these the county's primary natural hazard concerns. Flood risk (53.05) and hurricane risk (56.15) also exceed state averages, though tornado and earthquake threats dominate the profile.

Comprehensive coverage essential here

Ouachita County residents should maintain robust tornado coverage and strongly consider earthquake insurance given the county's 79.87 earthquake risk score. Flood and hurricane insurance should also be reviewed to ensure complete protection across all major hazard types.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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