Population 3,049,391 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Arkansas
Household size in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Arkansas has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size is little changed from 2006–10, while the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Arkansas are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Arkansas as they are nationally: 12.3%, against 11.6%. Arkansas has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of states.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Arkansas
Renters in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Arkansas is about as common as it is nationally: 33.6% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 47.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.3 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Arkansas: 13.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Arkansas has a higher vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Arkansas are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Arkansas has newer homes than at least four in five states.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$346 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Arkansas costs $1,007 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $346 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in northwestern Arkansas and lowest in southwestern Arkansas.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Arkansas
Bachelor's degrees in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Arkansas (26.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only two of the 50 states and D.C. have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Arkansas is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Arkansas has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of states.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Arkansas
| Period | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Arkansas is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.6 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Arkansas compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 2.53 | 39.6 | 12.3% | 33.6% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,007 | 26.2% | 88.7% | 5.1% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Mississippi | 2.57 | 39.4 | 14.6% | 30.0% | 14.1% | 1987 | $1,018 | 25.8% | 87.3% | 5.8% |
| Oklahoma | 2.58 | 38.0 | 12.0% | 34.2% | 11.3% | 1982 | $1,127 | 28.9% | 89.3% | 5.0% |
| Louisiana | 2.59 | 39.0 | 15.2% | 32.6% | 14.4% | 1984 | $1,122 | 27.5% | 87.2% | 6.5% |
| Alabama | 2.56 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 29.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,091 | 29.0% | 88.7% | 4.9% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Texas | 2.83 | 36.7 | 12.9% | 37.4% | 9.4% | 1992 | $1,560 | 34.0% | 85.8% | 5.3% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Hawaii · Puerto Rico · Arizona · Oregon · New Mexico · New Hampshire · Montana · Mississippi · Michigan
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Arkansas. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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