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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Van Buren County

Arkansas · 15,796 residents · 710 sq mi
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The short version

With 15,796 people, Van Buren County is a county in Arkansas. At a median age of 50.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $105,500. The foreign-born share is 2%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

15,796
−2%since 2000
from 16,192 in 2000
1990 – 2025
50.2
+14%since 2000
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
710 sq mi
Population, 19902024
14K15K16K17K18K19902000201020202024Van Buren County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.3%(675)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(866)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.7%(899)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(893)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(611)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.5%(1,338)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.4%(1,650)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412%(1,894)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417%(2,681)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7415.4%(2,427)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.6%(1,357)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.2%(505)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$40,442
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,004 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$23,244
+40%since 2000
from $16,603 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.8%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
16.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance10.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade8.7%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5%
US avg: 1.7%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services3.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$105,500
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$600
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,124
79.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
20.2% rent
2.27 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.6
+5%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(15,550)
Black0.3%(50)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(215)
Asian0.2%(39)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(14,319)
Black0.4%(71)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(501)
Asian0.4%(56)
Other3.6%(565)
21
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
Mexican2.1%(356)
Guatemalan0.5%(88)
Nicaraguan0.1%(19)
Argentine0.1%(11)
Salvadoran0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(12)
Japanese0.1%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(14)
Ancestry
American18.8%(3,114)
Irish15.8%(2,618)
German13.7%(2,275)
English10.7%(1,781)
Scottish2.5%(418)
French2.4%(392)
Dutch1.9%(309)
Italian1.4%(240)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(236)
Polish0.8%(128)
Norwegian0.7%(108)
Swedish0.6%(92)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.5%(90)
British0.5%(89)
Czech0.3%(43)
Swiss0.2%(41)
Danish0.2%(31)
Austrian0.1%(16)
Hungarian0.1%(15)
West Indian0.1%(15)
Canadian0.1%(11)
Finnish0.1%(9)
Turkish0%(6)
Greek0%(5)
Russian0%(1)
Section 05

Education

15.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.8%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
6.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

29.7 min
+21%since 2000
from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
75.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
6.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

7.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
45.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 45.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
60.3%
US average: 73.3%
27.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
50.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
1.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
9.4%
−11.1 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.4%
US average: 91.9%
87.6%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

9.4%
−11.1 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
31.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
17.9%
US average: 13.7%
31.6%
US average: 17.6%
34.9%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
5.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
48.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
60.2%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)14.7%(200)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18%(245)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era43.7%(595)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War13.5%(184)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.1%(29)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,363 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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

Van Buren County, Arkansas has about 15,796 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Van Buren County, Arkansas earns about $40,442 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 $105,500, and the typical rent is about $600 a month.

How educated are people in Van Buren County, Arkansas?

About 15.8% 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 16.3% 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 1,788 residents, a change of about 13 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 →