United States › Arkansas › West Memphis CITY
West Memphis Arkansas · 23,336 residents (2025 est.) · 28.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
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
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 from 27,666 in 2000
23,336 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
830 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 951 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K 25K 26K 27K 29K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 West Memphis Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $42,674
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,399 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,679 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 28.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 11.1%
Public administration 4.5%
Transportation & warehousing 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.3%
Education & health services 0%
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$120,100
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$870
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $475 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 56.0% in 2000
53.9% rent
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 28.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 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 41.8%(11,563)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 28.3%(6,776)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(683)
from 64 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
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 68.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 83.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 78.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 49.3%(4,055)
Women 15+
Never married 39.8%(4,086)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 34.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 43.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 55.8% 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) 11.3%(95)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.6%(131)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to West Memphis Head to head
Compare West Memphis to nearby cities WEST MEMPHIS VS
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WEST MEMPHIS VS
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WEST MEMPHIS VS
Horn Lake
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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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