Little Rock: Economy & Jobs
Little Rock's typical household earns $63,003 (about the same as Pulaski County median $62,873; about the same as Arkansas median $60,773), with homes at a median value of $236,400. The surrounding county supports 261,631 jobs (avg $63,505).
- $83,505 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Arkansas $71,436).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $63,003 — near the Arkansas median ($60,273). Poverty rate 17.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 39% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.8× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 39.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 17.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $181,930 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $15,192,116 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $83,505 (vs Arkansas $71,436) |
| Income Estimate | $69,035 |
| Median Household Income | $63,003 (vs Arkansas $60,273) |
| Poverty Rate | 17.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $63,003 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.6% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 12% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 18.50 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 261,631 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $16,614,839,610 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $63,505 |
| All Occupations · Employment | 1,271,320 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% (at Arkansas median) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 293 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 25,346 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 86.50 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Animal Totals, Grain, Poultry Totals, Soybeans |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 12,229 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 224,772 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 13,294,221 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 55 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 38 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 81 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 195 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 84 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 48 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 12 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 357 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 394 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 27 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 86 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Walmart 126 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 169 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | ARKANSAS STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $4,333,732,242 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 10,858.08 (vs Arkansas $6,659) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 399,125 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 12 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.8% |
| Pct Public Transit | 1.2% |
| Pct Walked | 12.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 35.9 years (at Arkansas median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 28.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 10 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12