Hardy: Economy & Jobs
$26,932 is the median household income in Hardy (1.7× below Sharp County median $44,637; 2.3× below Arkansas median $60,773), with homes at a median value of $58,600. The surrounding county supports 1,775 jobs (avg $41,242).
- $48,584 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Arkansas $71,436).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $26,932 — below the Arkansas median ($60,273). Poverty rate 27.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 36% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 21.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 35.5% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 27.0% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $4,610 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $223,974 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $48,584 (vs Arkansas $71,436) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $38,173 |
| Median Household Income | $26,932 (vs Arkansas $60,273) |
| Poverty Rate | 27.0% |
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 | service_economy |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | lower-income |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $26,932 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 5.7% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 4% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 3.7% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 1,775 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $73,200,641 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $41,242 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,271,320 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% (vs Arkansas 2.6%) |
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 | 233 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 230,980 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 991.30 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 163 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 1,460 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 49,291 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
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 · Gas Stations | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Physician Offices | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Home Health | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Child Day Care | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 5 |
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 | 5 |
|---|
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 (1)
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 | Kwik Serv 3 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 5 |
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 | THE SPRING RIVER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 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 | $103,467,921 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,568.77 (vs Arkansas $6,659) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 12,075 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 83.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 3.7% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.3 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 47.3% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12