Population 1,040 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Central
Household size in Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.32 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Central are small: just 2.17 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. Household size has dropped from 2.49 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.5 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.5, Central 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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.4% of households in Central, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Central
Renters in Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Central is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 43.0% have no mortgage at all, 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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Central: 16.1% of homes are empty, 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.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +6 |
Central has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. 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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $400 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $626 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $603 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $906 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$507 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Central runs $906 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 18.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Central
Bachelor's degrees in Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Central: 16.7% 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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.4% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.8% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.4% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.7% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Central have finished high school as nationally: 89.7%, 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 Central
| Period | Central | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Central has been low: just 2.0% 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).
Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 2.17 | 49.5 | 3.4% | 12.7% | 16.1% | 1989 | $906 | 16.7% | 89.7% | 2.0% |
| Donaldson | 2.61 | 44.6 | 4.5% | 12.2% | 12.6% | 1989 | $799 | 20.0% | 94.5% | 5.0% |
| Friendship | 2.77 | 41.7 | 6.7% | 7.7% | 9.0% | 1988 | $733 | 27.8% | 93.8% | 3.5% |
| Witherspoon | 2.55 | 48.9 | 3.7% | 13.4% | 20.2% | 1985 | $895 | 15.6% | 93.9% | 6.7% |
| Social Hill | 2.45 | 42.9 | 4.4% | 13.6% | 8.2% | 1996 | $755 | 16.6% | 94.1% | 4.5% |
| Saginaw | 2.52 | 42.6 | 4.9% | 12.4% | 8.4% | 1994 | $750 | 19.1% | 94.0% | 4.3% |
| Joan | 2.48 | 46.7 | 8.7% | 5.5% | 18.4% | 1992 | $816 | 21.2% | 88.6% | 5.9% |
| Round Hill | 2.45 | 50.0 | 2.7% | 18.2% | 26.4% | 1984 | $816 | 12.7% | 93.4% | 11.3% |
| Caney | 2.67 | 40.7 | 4.2% | 19.7% | 11.8% | 2000 | $781 | 20.3% | 86.9% | 3.7% |
| Caddo Valley | 2.32 | 34.2 | 11.5% | 27.0% | 18.1% | 1987 | $778 | 48.6% | 91.5% | 3.9% |
| Rolla | 2.85 | 43.8 | 2.5% | 11.5% | 14.0% | 1988 | $1,079 | 22.7% | 86.7% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wattensaw, AR · Grant Town, WV · Graettinger, IA · Glidden, TX · Unity, WI · Genesee, PA · Venus, PA · Wabeno, WI · Franklin, NE · Walhalla, ND
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 Central. 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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