CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Van Buren County

Arkansas · 15,796 residents · 709.57 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Van Buren County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,442. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $105,500. With a median age of 50.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

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

Total population
15,796
−2%since 2000
from 16,192 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.2
+14%since 2000
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K16K17K18K1990201020202024Van 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

Median household income
$40,442
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,004 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$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%
Poverty rate
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

Median home value
$105,500
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$600
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
20.2% rent
Afford Score
2.6
+5%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(14,319)
Black0.4%(71)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(501)
Asian0.4%(56)
Other3.6%(565)
Segregation Score
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)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.7 min
+21%since 2000
from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
45.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 45.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
27.8%
−22.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.4%
−70.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Van Buren County

Cross County
Pop 16,186
Fayette County
Pop 15,872
La Paz County
Pop 16,711
Dixie County
Pop 18,038
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+10%
Home value$110,000+4%
Population7,848−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Conway County
Income$54,187+34%
Home value$154,100+46%
Population21,393+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Stone County
Income$40,943+1%
Home value$171,600+63%
Population12,703−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Cleburne County
Income$55,798+38%
Home value$179,800+70%
Population25,672+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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.

Keep going

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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Arkansas
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →