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CITY · 2020 ACS

Forrest City

Arkansas · 13,015 residents · 20.245 sq mi
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The short version

Forrest City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $33,062. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $67,500. The poverty rate of 33.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 20%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,015
−12%since 2000
from 14,774 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.9
+24%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K14K15K16K1990201020202024Forrest City
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.2%(802)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(739)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.7%(739)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.1%(659)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(655)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.8%(1,793)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4418%(2,340)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5414.1%(1,830)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.3%(1,736)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.9%(1,156)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843.2%(410)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.2%(156)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,062
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,111 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,395
+31%since 2000
from $11,716 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
12.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
33.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 33.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.9%
US avg: 10%
Information13.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade11.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing5.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Public administration0.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$67,500
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$703
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $426 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
41.4%
−9.8 ptssince 2000
from 51.1% in 2000
58.6% rent
Afford Score
2.0
−32%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic23.4%(3,046)
Black70.6%(9,184)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(446)
Asian0.6%(78)
Other1.5%(196)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Salvadoran3.3%(464)
Mexican1.5%(205)
Puerto Rican0.2%(30)
Nicaraguan0.2%(23)
Guatemalan0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Chinese0.9%(129)
Asian Indian0.1%(19)
Filipino0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.3%(41)
Ancestry
Irish4.2%(594)
German3.8%(531)
American2.3%(323)
French1.7%(235)
English1.3%(187)
Italian0.7%(103)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(64)
British0.4%(59)
Polish0.2%(32)
Scottish0.2%(30)
Welsh0.2%(25)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.1%(20)
Swiss0.1%(20)
Moroccan0.1%(13)
Norwegian0.1%(13)
Iraqi0.1%(10)
Czech0.1%(10)
Danish0.1%(10)
Finnish0.1%(10)
Dutch0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Central American population · Largest Salvadoran population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
78.0%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 65.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.5 min
−6%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
87.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 85.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
20.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.9%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
40.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 38.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
19.2%
−44.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
59.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.7% in 2009
Female
40.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 43.3% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.9%
−70.6 ptssince 2013
from 81.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married53.6%(3,305)
Married28.1%(1,736)
Widowed1.4%(85)
Divorced16.9%(1,045)
Women 15+
Never married38.8%(1,621)
Married32.8%(1,369)
Widowed12%(501)
Divorced16.5%(689)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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FORREST CITY VS
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FORREST CITY VS
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FORREST CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest City, Arkansas?

Forrest City, Arkansas has about 13,015 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Forrest City, Arkansas earns about $33,062 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 $67,500, and the typical rent is about $703 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest City, Arkansas?

About 10.5% 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 33.1% of people in Forrest City, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest City, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest City, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 349 residents, a change of about -3 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 →