RANK #528 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 13 AR · POP 64,802
1YR FORECAST: -1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
The Arkansas River, a central feature of Jefferson County, has shaped its history and continues to offer recreational opportunities. Pine Bluff, the county seat, is about 42 miles south of Little Rock, with Interstate 530 connecting the two cities, making for a commute under an hour. The county's landscape transitions from pine-covered hills in the west to fertile Delta farmland in the east. This natural setting provides extensive outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, biking, and hiking, with facilities like the Delta Rivers Nature Center and Jefferson County Regional Park.
Life in Jefferson County is characterized by a mix of community sizes, from the larger city of Pine Bluff to smaller towns like White Hall and Redfield. The local economy is diversifying, with significant activity in agricultural product processing and manufacturing. Educational institutions, including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, contribute to the workforce. Recent developments include investments in energy production and ongoing projects aimed at enhancing local amenities and infrastructure.
Jefferson County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.9% runs below the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 5.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Facility
GTL Americas (Energy Security Partners, Hanwha Petrochemicals, Arkansas Teachers Retirement Fund)
|
$3,500M | Proposed |
|
Jefferson Power Station
Entergy Arkansas
|
$1,600M | Planned |
|
Arkansas Cypress Solar and Battery
Entergy Arkansas (partnering with Google)
|
$600M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Jefferson County scores 47/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#528). Median household income is $51,096 and job growth is running at -1.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Jefferson County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $113,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.45 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $888/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Both population (-1.5% YoY) and employment (-1.3%) are contracting in Jefferson County, though housing tells its own story with values moving -0.9% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.19% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Jefferson County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.