United States › Arkansas › Van Buren CITY
Van Buren Arkansas · 24,556 residents (2025 est.) · 15.5 sq mi
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The short version
Van Buren is a city of 23,763 people in Arkansas. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. The typical home is worth $181,500, having more than doubled since 2000. The population is up 25% since 2000. Renters pay $847 a month at the median. Density works out to 1,535 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 18,986 in 2000
24,556 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,535 / sq mi
+9%since 2009
from 1,413 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 17K 19K 22K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Van Buren Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $61,149
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,608 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,948 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Transportation & warehousing 3%
Public administration 1.8%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$181,500
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$847
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $418 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.8% in 2000
34.4% rent
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.64 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 85.1%(16,152)
Hispanic / Latino 6%(1,147)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 69.3%(16,461)
Hispanic / Latino 15.7%(3,726)
from 42 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 71.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 81.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 85.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 11.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 28.2%(2,567)
Women 15+
Never married 22.4%(2,196)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 43.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 57.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 46.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 34.9%(531)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.9%(379)
Share of the 1,520 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Van Buren Head to head
Compare Van Buren to nearby cities VAN BUREN VS
Fort Smith
Income $54,816 −10%
Home value $178,100 −2%
Population 90,855 +270%
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VAN BUREN VS
Greenwood
Income $66,844 +9%
Home value $182,900 +1%
Population 9,793 −60%
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VAN BUREN VS
Sallisaw
Income $48,036 −21%
Home value $134,100 −26%
Population 8,790 −64%
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VAN BUREN VS
Poteau
Income $50,511 −17%
Home value $157,400 −13%
Population 9,171 −63%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Van Buren, Arkansas? Van Buren, Arkansas has about 23,763 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Van Buren, Arkansas? The typical household in Van Buren, Arkansas earns about $61,149 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Van Buren, Arkansas expensive? In Van Buren, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $181,500, and the typical rent is about $847 a month.
How educated are people in Van Buren, Arkansas? About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Van Buren, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Van Buren, Arkansas? About 15.3% of people in Van Buren, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.
Has Van Buren, Arkansas grown since 1990? Yes, Van Buren, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,833 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.
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