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CITY

Brinkley

Arkansas · 2,468 residents (2025 est.) · 5.686 sq mi
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The short version

Brinkley has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $38,996. Population has fallen 34% since 2000, a loss of 1,344 residents. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $94,000. With a median age of 49.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 36% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,596
−34%since 2000
from 3,940 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
457 / sq mi
−34%since 2000
from 693 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
49.1
+36%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,468 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K4K4K1990201020202024Brinkley
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,996
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,868 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,793
+99%since 2000
from $12,441 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
15.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 30.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.454
−2%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade29.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade2.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,000
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$608
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $263 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 54.8% in 2000
41.1% rent
Vacancy rate
23.9%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.5%
−14.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
23.1%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+12%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brinkley on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.6%(1,916)
Black48.4%(1,905)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(44)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score64.1%(2,526)
2024
White, non-Hispanic36%(935)
Black60.1%(1,560)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(22)
Asian1.3%(34)
Other1.7%(45)
Diversity Score63.6%(1,650)
Diversity Score
64
−1%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.4 min
+64%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.1%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.8%
−10.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
18.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.7%
+8.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2011
from 46.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
4.0%
−14.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
17.8%
−45.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−38.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.3%
−5.1 ptssince 2012
from 29.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−74.3 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.9%
+35.2 ptssince 2017
from 52.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2016
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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BRINKLEY VS
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BRINKLEY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Brinkley, Arkansas?

Brinkley, Arkansas has about 2,596 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brinkley, Arkansas?

The typical household in Brinkley, Arkansas earns about $38,996 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brinkley, Arkansas expensive?

In Brinkley, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $94,000, and the typical rent is about $608 a month.

How educated are people in Brinkley, Arkansas?

About 14.0% of adults age 25 and over in Brinkley, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brinkley, Arkansas?

About 25.7% of people in Brinkley, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brinkley, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Brinkley, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,638 residents, a change of about -39 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →