United States › Arkansas › Van Buren County COUNTY
Van Buren County Arkansas · 16,238 residents (2025 est.) · 710 sq mi
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The short version
Van Buren County is a county of 15,998 people in Arkansas. At a median age of 49.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $135,700. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. 2% of residents were born outside the United States.
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 from 16,192 in 2000
16,238 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 23 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 15K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Van Buren County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $50,354
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,004 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,603 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 7.9%
Public administration 4.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.1%
Education & health services 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
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$135,700
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$722
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 81.1% in 2000
22.1% rent
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.13 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.5 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 96%(15,550)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(215)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 91.6%(14,659)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(551)
from 13 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 71.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 45.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 60.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 20.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 87.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 23.7%(1,604)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 31.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 34.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 48.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 60.2% 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) 16.7%(238)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.6%(337)
Share of the 1,429 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 County 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%
Population 7,848 −52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Conway County
Income $54,187 +8%
Home value $154,100 +14%
Population 21,393 +32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Stone County
Income $40,943 −19%
Home value $171,600 +26%
Population 12,703 −22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Cleburne County
Income $55,798 +11%
Home value $179,800 +32%
Population 25,672 +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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