Bolthole Index

Arkansas · Off-grid & homestead potential

Pope County

67Index Score / 100
#55 of 75 in Arkansas

Pope County scores 67/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 52.1″/yr rainfall plus 73.2% wooded land.

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County locator

Pope County in Arkansas

67
County map
Pope County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Pope County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness5835% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 89%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$216kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$3,861Land / acre
52.1"Annual rain
8.1% of yrsSevere drought
20.2 / yr (+15.6)Mid-century 100°F days
17.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.54" (+6.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.49×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,674Home insurance / yr
1.5% / yrInsurance growth
0.39%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
23,123People within 30 min
1,463,681People within 2 hr
71,520Radius comparison (15 mi)
79.6People / sq mi
40.2%Federal land
65.7%Land at 15% slope or less
7.1%Septic soil without severe limits
33,155 acWorkable land screen
73.2%Wooded land
49 tonsBiomass / forest ac
59.7°FAvg temp

Scout Pope County

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Property hunt

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Pope County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Pope County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • County zoningNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permittingArkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater Program

    Onsite wastewater (septic) systems are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health; installing a new system requires a Permit for Construction and a Permit for Operation, obtained through the county health unit's Onsite Environmental Specialist.

    Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater ↗
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Pope County, Arkansas before you buy or build. Scouted Aug 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Pope County, Arkansas

Is Pope County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Pope County scores 67/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 52.1″/yr rainfall plus 73.2% wooded land.

Do you need a building permit in Pope County, Arkansas?

Building-permit rules for unincorporated Pope County are not published on an official source. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater Program. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Pope County, Arkansas?

Land in Pope County runs about $3,861 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Pope County?

Pope County gets about 52.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.1% of years.

How remote is Pope County?

A representative private-land location has about 23,123 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,463,681 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Pope County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Pope compares in Arkansas

Compare side-by-side →See all 75 Arkansas counties ranked →