Population 470 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Central City
Household size in Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.89 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.03 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Central City has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across Arkansas. Household size has dropped from 2.89 in 2006–10, 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 Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Central City is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1.
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 City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Central City: 6.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 City
Renters in Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +11.3 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Central City is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 63.2% 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 Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.9% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Central City: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing.
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 City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +6 |
Central City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, 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 City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $655 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $632 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $684 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $780 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$125 | +$346 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Central City costs $780 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 14.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 City
Bachelor's degrees in Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Central City: 18.7% 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 City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.4% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.4% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Central City is above the national rate: 93.2% 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 Central City
| Period | Central City | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Central City has been strong: just 2.7% 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 City 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 City | 2.54 | 43.9 | 6.0% | 22.6% | 7.8% | 1992 | $780 | 18.7% | 93.2% | 2.7% |
| Lavaca | 2.67 | 38.7 | 3.1% | 18.5% | 9.3% | 1990 | $865 | 18.9% | 90.5% | 2.9% |
| Barling | 2.06 | 38.6 | 11.2% | 34.4% | 12.2% | 1997 | $1,122 | 28.1% | 91.7% | 1.7% |
| Kibler | 2.88 | 35.0 | 7.6% | 11.4% | 7.7% | 1997 | $794 | 16.7% | 92.5% | 1.3% |
| Old Jenny Lind | 2.42 | 43.4 | 8.9% | 12.1% | 8.8% | 1985 | $810 | 26.8% | 91.7% | 0.4% |
| Greenwood | 2.62 | 39.6 | 8.9% | 19.7% | 6.5% | 1993 | $914 | 26.3% | 92.9% | 2.5% |
| Ursula | 2.30 | 44.7 | 10.0% | 17.9% | 8.4% | 1984 | $693 | 20.2% | 88.4% | 3.2% |
| Fort Smith | 2.48 | 38.0 | 14.1% | 45.2% | 10.2% | 1976 | $967 | 23.1% | 83.1% | 6.4% |
| Riverdale | 2.34 | 49.5 | 7.2% | 24.6% | 7.2% | 1992 | $736 | 17.5% | 95.3% | 3.0% |
| Charleston | 2.33 | 41.7 | 12.2% | 20.5% | 8.4% | 1977 | $696 | 21.1% | 85.9% | 2.2% |
| Van Buren | 2.52 | 39.3 | 12.6% | 29.3% | 7.8% | 1988 | $861 | 20.2% | 87.2% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Roosevelt, AZ · Donovan, IL · Dorchester, TX · Doskie, MS · Eagle Bridge, NY · Echo, LA · Edwardsville, AL · Emerson, NY · Enon Grove, GA · Ridenour, TN
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 City. 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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