Population 97 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Blue Ball
Household size in Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.97 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.50 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Blue Ball are small: just 2.05 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.55, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 62.1 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +17.8 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 62.1, Blue Ball is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Blue Ball as they are nationally: 10.6%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Arkansas as a whole (12.3%).
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 Blue Ball
Renters in Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 13.9% of households in Blue Ball rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 57.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.9% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.6% of the housing in Blue Ball, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Arkansas as a whole looks much the same.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Blue Ball are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Arkansas.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $239 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $601 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $569 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $812 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$573 | +$346 | +$606 |
The median renter in Blue Ball pays $812 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 34.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Blue Ball
Bachelor's degrees in Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.2% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Blue Ball: 16.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.1% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.1% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.2% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.1 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Blue Ball is a bit above the national rate: 91.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
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 Blue Ball
| Period | Blue Ball | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Blue Ball has been strong: just 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Blue Ball compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ball | 2.05 | 62.1 | 10.6% | 13.9% | 14.6% | 1987 | $812 | 16.4% | 91.2% | 1.4% |
| Gravelly | 2.06 | 57.1 | 5.0% | 26.6% | 16.2% | 1981 | $621 | 16.2% | 85.1% | 0.3% |
| Union Hill | 2.16 | 55.8 | 7.4% | 15.3% | 14.7% | 1987 | $665 | 20.4% | 87.3% | 0.9% |
| Harvey | 2.23 | 50.5 | 5.0% | 19.5% | 15.2% | 1987 | $489 | 25.6% | 81.7% | 1.6% |
| Bluffton | 1.96 | 58.6 | 5.9% | 29.6% | 16.9% | 1984 | $654 | 16.8% | 84.7% | 0.0% |
| Sugar Grove | 2.59 | 46.9 | 1.9% | 25.4% | 11.4% | 1984 | $1,096 | 20.3% | 90.0% | 1.0% |
| Briggsville | 1.98 | 58.7 | 5.5% | 29.4% | 16.7% | 1982 | $654 | 15.7% | 85.2% | 0.0% |
| Golden City | 2.67 | 37.7 | 8.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% | 1977 | $874 | 10.6% | 84.6% | 1.7% |
| Tate | 2.40 | 50.7 | 10.0% | 8.9% | 15.9% | 1981 | $865 | 11.8% | 92.0% | 0.3% |
| Chickalah | 2.46 | 48.9 | 18.0% | 32.7% | 23.9% | 1984 | $680 | 15.6% | 82.4% | 10.8% |
| Parks | 2.24 | 50.4 | 4.9% | 19.3% | 15.2% | 1987 | $487 | 25.6% | 81.7% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Circle, AK · Flora, OR · Draytonville, SC · Lajitas, TX · Lake Holiday, VA · St. James, MI · Mount Carmel, ND · Mather, WI · Moriah, AL · Spaulding, WI
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 Blue Ball. 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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