CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Forrest City

Arkansas · 15,371 residents · 20.245 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Forrest City micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Forrest City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $25,217. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $74,400. The poverty rate of 35.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 36% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 34.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,371
+4%since 2000
from 14,774 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
759 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 730 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
34.8
+8%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K14K15K16K1990201020202024Forrest City
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,217
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,111 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,485
−2%since 2000
from $11,716 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
9.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
35.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 33.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade13.8%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 7.2%
Education & health services2.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services2.5%
US avg: 7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$74,400
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,100 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$535
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $426 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
28.1%
−23.0 ptssince 2000
from 51.1% in 2000
55.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
28.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 28.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.0
+22%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forrest City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic29.6%(4,370)
Black60.5%(8,934)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(1,221)
Asian0.7%(108)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.4%(9,807)
2010
White, non-Hispanic24.9%(3,821)
Black66.8%(10,264)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(912)
Asian0.6%(98)
Other1.7%(258)
Diversity Score60.9%(9,363)
Diversity Score
61
−8%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
73.6%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 65.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+15%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
84.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
0.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
15.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
32.4%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
28.5%
−35.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.7% in 2009
Female
43.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.8%
−48.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forrest City

Avon Park
Pop 10,514
Palatka
Pop 10,872
Opa-locka
Pop 16,177
Brownsville
Pop 16,936
Places similar to Forrest City
Head to head

Compare Forrest City to nearby cities

FORREST CITY VS
Helena-West Helena
Income$36,019+43%
Home value$73,200−2%
Population8,216−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
West Memphis
Income$42,674+69%
Home value$120,100+61%
Population23,336+90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
Marion
Income$78,330+211%
Home value$212,400+185%
Population13,378+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
Horn Lake
Income$53,311+111%
Home value$171,400+130%
Population26,741+117%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest City, Arkansas?

Forrest City, Arkansas has about 15,371 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forrest City, Arkansas?

The typical household in Forrest City, Arkansas earns about $25,217 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forrest City, Arkansas expensive?

In Forrest City, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $74,400, and the typical rent is about $535 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest City, Arkansas?

About 11.8% of adults age 25 and over in Forrest City, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forrest City, Arkansas?

About 35.6% of people in Forrest City, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest City, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest City, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,007 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Arkansas
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Forrest City with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →