With 23,929 people, West Memphis is a city in Arkansas. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 46% of the housing stock. 29.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $120,100. The median age is 34.1, younger than the US median of 38.9.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $42,674, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about West Memphis
What changed most since 1990
Black share42.3% → 63.2%(+20.9 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Homes owned by their occupants57.7% → 46.1%(−11.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree10.8% → 13.9%(+3.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
West Memphis's population equals 51% of Crittenden County's. Its number of households earning $100,000 or more equals 33% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 77% of the county's.
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)11.3%(95)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.6%(131)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era53.5%(450)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0.7%(6)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 841 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
West Memphis, decade by decade
West Memphis population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
28,259
$52,926
$119,043
10.8%
62.2
2000
27,666
$49,912
$114,400
11.5%
64.3
2010
26,245
$40,142
$127,026
9.5%
60.7
2020
24,520
$39,514
$104,357
15.0%
60.7
2024
23,929
$42,674
$120,100
13.9%
64.7
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
