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CITY

West Memphis

Arkansas · 23,336 residents (2025 est.) · 28.842 sq mi
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The short version

West Memphis has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,674. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 14% 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 $120,100. At a median age of 34.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 30% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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
23,929
−14%since 2000
from 27,666 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
830 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 959 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.1
+9%since 2000
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:23,336 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
23K25K26K27K29K1990201020202024West Memphis
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,674
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,399 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,339
+56%since 2000
from $13,679 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
21.7%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 28.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
−9%since 2010
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance11.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical11.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,100
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$870
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $475 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.1%
−9.9 ptssince 2000
from 56.0% in 2000
53.9% rent
Vacancy rate
15.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+23%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Memphis on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic41.8%(11,563)
Black55.8%(15,429)
Hispanic / Latino1%(279)
Asian0.5%(147)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.2%(17,476)
2024
White, non-Hispanic28.3%(6,776)
Black63.2%(15,117)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(683)
Asian0.6%(146)
Other5%(1,207)
Diversity Score64.7%(15,474)
Diversity Score
65
+2%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.8%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 68.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+46%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.4%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
15.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
14.5%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 62.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.4%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 59.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
54.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2012
from 17.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−72.6 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.6%
+22.7 ptssince 2017
from 60.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare West Memphis to nearby cities

WEST MEMPHIS VS
Marion
Income$78,330+84%
Home value$212,400+77%
Population13,378−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST MEMPHIS VS
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Income$51,736+21%
Home value$169,000+41%
Population609,647+2512%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST MEMPHIS VS
Horn Lake
Income$53,311+25%
Home value$171,400+43%
Population26,741+15%
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WEST MEMPHIS VS
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Income$78,483+84%
Home value$236,300+97%
Population57,819+148%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Memphis, Arkansas?

West Memphis, Arkansas has about 23,929 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Memphis, Arkansas?

The typical household in West Memphis, Arkansas earns about $42,674 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Memphis, Arkansas expensive?

In West Memphis, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $120,100, and the typical rent is about $870 a month.

How educated are people in West Memphis, Arkansas?

About 13.9% of adults age 25 and over in West Memphis, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Memphis, Arkansas?

About 29.1% of people in West Memphis, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Memphis, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, West Memphis, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,330 residents, a change of about -15 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 →