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CITY

Rison

Arkansas · 917 residents (2025 est.) · 3.275 sq mi
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The short version

Rison has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $35,855. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 252 residents. 16% 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 $115,500. The poverty rate of 46.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,019
−20%since 2000
from 1,271 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
311 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 388 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+5%since 2000
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:917 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8601K1K1K2K1990201020202024Rison
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,855
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,865 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,337
+48%since 2000
from $13,106 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
15.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
46.3%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 32.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.449
+4%since 2010
from 0.431 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing4.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Information2.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance1.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$115,500
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$505
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $288 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.3%
−14.0 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
50.7% rent
Vacancy rate
17.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.2%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.0%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 38.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+42%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
48
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rison on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic61.9%(787)
Black33.4%(424)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(28)
Asian0.2%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score60.2%(765)
2024
White, non-Hispanic49.6%(505)
Black48.5%(494)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(4)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.6%(16)
Diversity Score64.9%(661)
Diversity Score
65
+8%since 2000
from 60 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.3%
+26.5 ptssince 2000
from 61.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+21%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
17.4%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
36.8%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
35.9%
−24.0 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.4%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
54.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
33.5%
+8.0 ptssince 2012
from 25.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.6%
+36.5 ptssince 2017
from 41.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 99.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Rison to nearby cities

RISON VS
Pine Bluff
Income$42,718+19%
Home value$89,400−23%
Population38,213+4067%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RISON VS
Monticello
Income$27,238−24%
Home value$137,500+19%
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RISON VS
Malvern
Income$46,250+29%
Home value$104,500−10%
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RISON VS
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Income$49,361+38%
Home value$107,400−7%
Population10,127+1004%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rison, Arkansas?

Rison, Arkansas has about 1,019 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rison, Arkansas?

The typical household in Rison, Arkansas earns about $35,855 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rison, Arkansas expensive?

In Rison, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $115,500, and the typical rent is about $505 a month.

How educated are people in Rison, Arkansas?

About 16.0% of adults age 25 and over in Rison, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rison, Arkansas?

About 46.3% of people in Rison, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rison, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Rison, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 239 residents, a change of about -19 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 →