HUD data

Qualified Census Tracts in Arkansas (2026)

HUD's Arkansas QCT map — the tracts that qualify for LIHTC's 30% basis boost and concentrate Housing Choice Voucher demand, county by county.
Total QCTs
152
Counties with a QCT
49
Data year
2026

QCTs by county in Arkansas

CountyFIPSQCTsSample tract GEOIDs
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area051192705119002600, 05119004108, 05119003002, 05119002900, 05119003208
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA051431405143011302, 05143010704, 05143011104, 05143010306, 05143010602
Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area05035905035031200, 05035030101, 05035030301, 05035030102, 05035030503
Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA05131705131000400, 05131001202, 05131000200, 05131000501, 05131010303
Jefferson County, AR05069705069001200, 05069001401, 05069000303, 05069001600, 05069001903
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area05045505045030701, 05045030900, 05045030702, 05045031007, 05045030800
Phillips County, AR05107505107480600, 05107480201, 05107480500, 05107480400, 05107480300
Hot Springs, AR MSA05051505051011400, 05051010800, 05051010602, 05051011500, 05051010700
White County, AR05145505145070802, 05145070801, 05145070700, 05145071101, 05145070402
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR HUD Metro FMR Area05091405091020400, 05091020600, 05091020200, 05091020500
County 0503105031405031000602, 05031000200, 05031000601, 05031000101
Mississippi County, AR05093405093010100, 05093011300, 05093011000, 05093010300
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA05007305007020301, 05007021102, 05007021202
Greene County, AR05055305055480502, 05055480501, 05055480700
Pope County, AR05115305115951302, 05115951601, 05115951400
Desha County, AR05041305041950400, 05041950200, 05041950300
Chicot County, AR05017205017080200, 05017080400
Stone County, AR05137205137950204, 05137950203
St. Francis County, AR05123205123960400, 05123960600
Union County, AR05139205139950900, 05139951000
Arkansas County, AR05001205001480400, 05001480700
Nevada County, AR05099205099090200, 05099090300
Cross County, AR05037205037950500, 05037950100
Poinsett County, AR HUD Metro FMR Area05111205111490700, 05111490300
Johnson County, AR05071205071951800, 05071952000
Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA05033205033020502, 05033020602
Hot Spring County, AR05059205059020102, 05059020400
Clark County, AR05019105019953601
Ouachita County, AR05103105103950600
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area05125105125010601
Yell County, AR05149105149952500
Searcy County, AR05129105129970200
Columbia County, AR05027105027950500
Ashley County, AR05003105003960300
Izard County, AR05065105065960100
Jackson County, AR05067105067480300
Marion County, AR05089105089960301
Randolph County, AR05121105121960302
Bradley County, AR05011105011950300
Independence County, AR05063105063490600
Conway County, AR05029105029950400
Polk County, AR05113105113950600
Franklin County, AR05047105047950201
Lafayette County, AR05073105073470101
Carroll County, AR05015105015950302
Monroe County, AR05095105095950100
Lincoln County, AR05079105079960600
Lee County, AR05077105077470300
Drew County, AR05043105043490400

What is a Qualified Census Tract (QCT)?

HUD designates a census tract as a QCT when either at least 50% of households have income below 60% AMI, OR the tract has a poverty rate of 25% or higher. QCT-designated projects qualify for a 130% qualified basis under LIHTC (the "30% basis boost"). For DSCR / Section 8 investors, QCTs also identify Arkansasneighborhoods with the highest concentration of Housing Choice Voucher tenants — the same census tracts that consistently rent at or above FMR under HAP contracts.

Arkansas Qualified Census Tracts — FAQs

What is a Qualified Census Tract in Arkansas?

A Qualified Census Tract (QCT) is a HUD-designated census tract where at least half of households earn below 60% of Area Median Income, or where the poverty rate is 25% or higher. HUD publishes the Arkansas designations each year.

Why does QCT status matter to investors?

A LIHTC development located in a QCT is eligible for a 30% basis boost, which increases the credits available for the project. QCTs also tend to concentrate voucher-holding households, which is why Section 8 investors watch them.

Is a QCT the same as a Difficult Development Area?

No. A QCT is based on income and poverty concentration, while a Difficult Development Area (DDA) is based on high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area incomes. Both can qualify a LIHTC project for the same 30% basis boost.

Can you finance a rental inside a Arkansas QCT?

Yes — business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property are underwritten on the property and the borrower's experience, not on tract designation. Property condition, rent documentation, and market liquidity still drive the terms available, subject to lender approval.

Local market news & updates

What the latest published data says about Arkansas

Every update below is a published figure from a named federal source, shown with the exact period that source covers. Where a dataset is only produced at county or state level, it is labelled that way rather than presented as city data. These are market statistics for informational purposes only — they are not rates, loan terms, or an offer of credit.

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Arkansas housing costs — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    The most recent published Census reading for Arkansas shows a median owner-occupied home value of $175,300, a median gross rent of $914 per month. These are survey estimates for the period shown, not live listing prices, and they are the starting point investors use to sanity-check a rent assumption before underwriting a DSCR file.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Arkansas renter demand indicators — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Census reports a population of 3,032,651, a median household income of $58,773, a rental vacancy estimate of 14.0% for Arkansas. Income and vacancy set the practical ceiling on achievable rent, which is what a DSCR calculation is ultimately built on.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Source periods represented above: ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023. Each figure updates only when its publisher releases a new period — we never restamp an older reading with a newer date.

Informational market data only. Nothing in this section is a rate, an annual percentage rate, a payment, a loan term, an approval, or an offer or commitment to lend. Citing a federal dataset does not imply the agency endorses, sponsors or is affiliated with Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881). Financing referenced on this page is business-purpose investment property financing.

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