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COUNTY

Van Buren County

Arkansas · 16,238 residents (2025 est.) · 709.57 sq mi
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The short version

Van Buren County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,354. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% 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 $135,700. With a median age of 49.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,998
−1%since 2000
from 16,192 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
23 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 23 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
49.6
+12%since 2000
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,238 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K16K17K18K1990201020202024Van Buren County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(674)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(1,080)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.4%(707)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(893)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(694)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.3%(1,329)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(1,779)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(1,928)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.1%(2,577)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.3%(2,446)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.2%(1,465)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(426)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,354
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,004 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,312
+71%since 2000
from $16,603 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.0%
+19.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
−3%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade11.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance10.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade8.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$135,700
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$722
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
22.1% rent
Vacancy rate
23.6%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+8%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Van Buren County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(15,550)
Black0.3%(50)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(215)
Asian0.2%(39)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(14,659)
Black0.4%(68)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(551)
Asian0.4%(63)
Other4.1%(657)
Diversity Score
20
+57%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
−16%since 2020
from 21 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.6%(414)
Guatemalan0.3%(48)
Spaniard0.2%(31)
Cuban0.1%(18)
Puerto Rican0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(52)
Japanese0.1%(11)
Ancestry
English15.9%(2,536)
Irish15.2%(2,436)
German13.6%(2,180)
American10.9%(1,745)
Scottish2.8%(448)
French2.5%(401)
Italian2.2%(357)
Dutch1.6%(254)
Polish1.3%(210)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(201)
Welsh1.1%(168)
Norwegian0.9%(141)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.6%(92)
Czech0.5%(74)
Portuguese0.3%(44)
Greek0.2%(36)
British0.2%(30)
Danish0.2%(26)
Canadian0.1%(22)
West Indian0.1%(20)
Austrian0.1%(12)
Swiss0.1%(10)
Finnish0%(5)
Turkish0%(4)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.2 min
+36%since 2000
from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
44.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 45.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.9%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.1%
−36.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2012
from 20.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−71.3 ptssince 2013
from 79.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.5%
+23.3 ptssince 2017
from 58.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.7%(1,604)
Married56.1%(3,798)
Widowed5%(342)
Divorced15.2%(1,032)
Women 15+
Never married14.3%(970)
Married54.7%(3,699)
Widowed16.2%(1,098)
Divorced14.7%(994)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Van Buren County to nearby counties

VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Searcy County
Income$44,426−12%
Home value$110,000−19%
Population7,848−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Conway County
Income$54,187+8%
Home value$154,100+14%
Population21,393+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Stone County
Income$40,943−19%
Home value$171,600+26%
Population12,703−22%
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VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Cleburne County
Income$55,798+11%
Home value$179,800+32%
Population25,672+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

Van Buren County, Arkansas has about 15,998 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Van Buren County, Arkansas earns about $50,354 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Van Buren County, Arkansas expensive?

In Van Buren County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $135,700, and the typical rent is about $722 a month.

How educated are people in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Van Buren County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

About 19.1% of people in Van Buren County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Van Buren County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Van Buren County, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,990 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 4601Census Tract 4604Census Tract 4602Census Tract 4603.04Census Tract 4603.01Census Tract 4603.03
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 72031ZIP 72153ZIP 72088ZIP 72013ZIP 72141ZIP 72080ZIP 72629ZIP 72028
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →