Drew County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Drew County, Arkansas had an estimated 16,935 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,346, across 828 square miles. County output reached $819.1 m in 2024, 423 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 18 7(a) approvals worth $7.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Drew County
How many people live in Drew County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,046
- Households7,196
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$42,824
- Median age37.7
- Median gross rent$725 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$140,800
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher25.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,055
- Population under 183,743
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over3,107
- Share 65 and over18.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,196
- Civilian labor force7,143
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.7 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties43rd of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2034th of 3,222
Drew County is the 43rd largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 18.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Drew County
Is Drew County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,935
- Census 2020 base population17,346
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.37 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-51
- Births, 2024187
- Deaths, 2024227
- Natural change, 2024-40
- Net domestic migration, 2024-31
- Net international migration, 202419
- Total net migration, 2024-12
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-239
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2586th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.37 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Drew County
Where are people moving to Drew County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving322
- People arriving, from those returns645
- Tax returns filed by households leaving376
- Net household movement-54
- Adjusted gross income arriving$13.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-2.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$41,556
- Average income of a leaving household$43,316
- Largest single originDesha County (42 households)
- Largest single destinationPulaski County (51 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desha County | 42 | 84 | $1.9 m |
| Ashley County | 32 | 66 | $1.1 m |
| Bradley County | 25 | 44 | $853,000 |
| Chicot County | 20 | 43 | $800,000 |
Households arriving report $1,760 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Desha County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Drew County
What is the Drew County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$819.1 m
- County GDP, 2023$786.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years29.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes39th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2012th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$48,052
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 29.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Drew County
Employment by industry in Drew County
- Covered employment, annual average6,337
- Establishments reporting520
- Average annual pay$44,295
- Average weekly wage$852
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,226
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$43,183
- Retail trade, employment873
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,154
- Manufacturing, employment851
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$52,982
- Accommodation and food services, employment612
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,750
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment253
- Construction, employment172
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 1,226 | 98 | $43,183 |
| Retail trade | 873 | 78 | $32,154 |
| Manufacturing | 851 | 17 | $52,982 |
| Accommodation and food services | 612 | 39 | $19,750 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 253 | 51 | $55,836 |
| Construction | 172 | 29 | $55,578 |
| Finance and insurance | 168 | 28 | $65,511 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 125 | 22 | $62,006 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,226 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Drew County
How many businesses are in Drew County?
- Establishments, all industries423
- Employment at those establishments5,271
- Annual payroll$213.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Drew County
Building permits in Drew County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202413
- Declared construction value permitted$2.0 m
- Single family units authorized2
- Multifamily units authorized11
- Multifamily share of units84.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$153,000
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.8
Multifamily is 84.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Drew County
SBA loans in Drew County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded18
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$422,061
- Median 7(a) approval$253,850
- Largest single approval$1,530,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)119
- Jobs per approval6.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals11
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLogging (6)
- Most active lenderCommercial Bank & Trust Company (6)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.3 m
- Average 504 approval$1,105,333
- Median 504 approval$998,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved3.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$10.9 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Drew County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Drew County
Do SBA loans in Drew County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Paid in full2
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Drew County
SBA lending by place in Drew County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Monticello, approvals15
- Wilmar, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Monticello | 15 | $6,324,600 |
| Wilmar | 3 | $1,272,500 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Drew County
How large is Drew County?
- Land area828 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties14th of 75
- Width, east to west32.1 mi
- Height, north to south27.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land21
- Establishments per square mile0.51
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Drew County
Flood risk in Drew County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Drew County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050430
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Drew County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Drew County (community 050430), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Drew County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 83.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Drew County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Drew County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,046
- Households7,196
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$42,824
- Median age37.7
Common questions
Drew County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Drew County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,935 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 17,046, in 7,196 households, ranking 43rd of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Drew County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.37 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,346, to 16,935 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 187 births against 227 deaths, with net migration of -12. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Drew County?
$42,824. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $140,800, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $725 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Drew County?
423 establishments, employing 5,271 people with an annual payroll of $213.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Drew County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,226 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,337 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,295, or $852 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Drew County?
18 7(a) approvals totaling $7.6 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $253,850, plus 3 504 approvals worth $3.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Drew County?
13 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.0 m. Multifamily was 84.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Drew County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Drew County come from?
The largest single origin is Desha County, with 42 households. Arriving households report an average income of $41,556 against $43,316 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Drew County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Drew County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Drew County
Cities and places in Drew.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Drew County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | city | 8,257 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Lacey | CDP | 746 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wilmar | city | 523 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Winchester | town | 122 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tillar | city | 119 | None recorded | 54.5 percent here, 45.5 percent Desha County |
| Collins | CDP | 60 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jerome | CDP | 50 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby