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CITY

Hughes

Arkansas · 976 residents (2025 est.) · 2.263 sq mi
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The short version

Hughes has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,250. Population has fallen 53% since 2000, a loss of 981 residents. 18% 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 $69,800. With a median age of 57.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 29% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% 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
886
−53%since 2000
from 1,867 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
392 / sq mi
−53%since 2000
from 825 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
57.0
+83%since 2000
from 31.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:976 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7881K1K2K2K1990201020202024Hughes
2024886
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,250
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $18,333 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,776
+137%since 2000
from $10,039 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.6%
+17.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
41.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
−2%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance9.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$69,800
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$389
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $260 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.5%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 51.0% in 2000
38.5% rent
Vacancy rate
11.2%
−18.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
69.9%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
−23%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
65
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hughes on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic29.4%(549)
Black67.8%(1,265)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(13)
Asian1.6%(30)
Other0%
Diversity Score56%(1,046)
2024
White, non-Hispanic37.5%(332)
Black60.3%(534)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.3%(20)
Diversity Score62%(549)
Diversity Score
62
+11%since 2000
from 56 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.1%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.6%
+32.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.8%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.7 min
+56%since 2000
from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
88.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 86.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
23.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
14.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 16.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 50.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
17.6%
−46.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−33.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
32.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2012
from 24.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.3%
−61.6 ptssince 2013
from 73.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.4%
+48.0 ptssince 2017
from 30.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 99.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Hughes to nearby cities

HUGHES VS
Forrest City
Income$35,689−17%
Home value$92,000+32%
Population12,308+1161%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES VS
West Memphis
Income$42,674−1%
Home value$120,100+72%
Population23,336+2291%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES VS
Marion
Income$78,330+81%
Home value$212,400+204%
Population13,378+1271%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES VS
Horn Lake
Income$53,311+23%
Home value$171,400+146%
Population26,741+2640%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hughes, Arkansas?

Hughes, Arkansas has about 886 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hughes, Arkansas?

The typical household in Hughes, Arkansas earns about $43,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hughes, Arkansas expensive?

In Hughes, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $69,800, and the typical rent is about $389 a month.

How educated are people in Hughes, Arkansas?

About 18.1% of adults age 25 and over in Hughes, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hughes, Arkansas?

About 41.6% of people in Hughes, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hughes, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Hughes, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 894 residents, a change of about -50 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 →