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CITY · 2010 ACS

Fort Smith

Arkansas · 86,209 residents · 64.189 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Smith has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,545. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $109,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 37.2
Less educated
19% 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
86,209
+7%since 2000
from 80,268 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,343 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 1,250 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
35.1
−1%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
71K76K81K86K92K1990201020202024Fort Smith
202490K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,545
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,157 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,008
+16%since 2000
from $18,994 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
18.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.486
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade21.8%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12.7%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$109,600
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$569
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $424 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
35.2%
−21.2 ptssince 2000
from 56.3% in 2000
45.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.0
+32%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Smith on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74%(59,436)
Black8.6%(6,874)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(7,048)
Asian4.6%(3,661)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.2%(38,716)
2010
White, non-Hispanic64.6%(55,654)
Black8.8%(7,621)
Hispanic / Latino16.5%(14,190)
Asian5.2%(4,524)
Other4.9%(4,182)
Diversity Score67.9%(58,495)
Diversity Score
68
+41%since 2000
from 48 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
79.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.5 min
+37%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
82.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
9.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
28.0%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
12.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.3%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fort Smith to nearby cities

FORT SMITH VS
Van Buren
Income$61,149+67%
Home value$181,500+66%
Population24,556−73%
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FORT SMITH VS
Greenwood
Income$66,844+83%
Home value$182,900+67%
Population9,793−89%
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FORT SMITH VS
Poteau
Income$50,511+38%
Home value$157,400+44%
Population9,171−90%
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FORT SMITH VS
Sallisaw
Income$48,036+31%
Home value$134,100+22%
Population8,790−90%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

Fort Smith, Arkansas has about 86,209 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

The typical household in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns about $36,545 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Smith, Arkansas expensive?

In Fort Smith, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $109,600, and the typical rent is about $569 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 19.3% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Smith, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 21.0% of people in Fort Smith, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Smith, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Smith, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,411 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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

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