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CITY · 2020 ACS

Fort Smith

Arkansas · 89,142 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 $45,233. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $132,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
89,142
+11%since 2000
from 80,268 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,389 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 1,250 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.9
+5%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
71K76K81K86K92K1990201020202024Fort Smith
202490K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,233
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,157 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,099
+53%since 2000
from $18,994 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 10%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$132,800
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$703
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $424 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
50.5%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 56.3% in 2000
49.5% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+30%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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(50,728)
Black8.5%(7,602)
Hispanic / Latino19.6%(17,466)
Asian5.7%(5,103)
Other6.6%(5,861)
Diversity Score75.2%(67,069)
Diversity Score
75
+56%since 2000
from 48 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.4%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+57%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.6%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
11.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
12.7%
−65.6 ptssince 2013
from 78.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fort Smith to nearby cities

FORT SMITH VS
Van Buren
Income$61,149+35%
Home value$181,500+37%
Population24,556−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT SMITH VS
Greenwood
Income$66,844+48%
Home value$182,900+38%
Population9,793−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT SMITH VS
Poteau
Income$50,511+12%
Home value$157,400+19%
Population9,171−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT SMITH VS
Sallisaw
Income$48,036+6%
Home value$134,100+1%
Population8,790−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

Fort Smith, Arkansas has about 89,142 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns about $45,233 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 $132,800, and the typical rent is about $703 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 24.3% 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 18.9% 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 16,344 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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

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