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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Forrest City Micro

Forrest City, AR · 1 counties · 21,800 residents (2025 est.) · 634.784 sq mi
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#15Fastest shrinkingof 918-5.6%
The short version

Forrest City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,574. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 6,929 residents. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $90,900. The poverty rate of 28.5% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
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

Total population
22,400
−24%since 2000
from 29,329 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
35 / sq mi
−24%since 2000
from 46 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.1
+19%since 2000
from 33.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,800 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
22K24K26K28K30K1990201020202024Forrest City
202422K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(1,346)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(1,664)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.1%(919)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(1,291)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(1,255)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.8%(3,320)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.6%(3,045)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(2,796)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.3%(2,756)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(2,477)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(1,200)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(331)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,574
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,146 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,140
+77%since 2000
from $12,483 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.4%
+15.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+3%since 2010
from 0.475 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,900
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$779
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.5%
−7.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.2% in 2000
44.5% rent
Vacancy rate
18.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.3%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
−6%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
31
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forrest City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic45.1%(13,224)
Black48.7%(14,273)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(1,431)
Asian0.5%(161)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic39.3%(8,797)
Black54.4%(12,184)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(821)
Asian0.1%(30)
Other2.5%(568)
Diversity Score
68
−2%since 2009
from 70 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
41
+17%since 2020
from 35 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
Mexican1.3%(289)
Salvadoran0.9%(196)
Guatemalan0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Korean0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English5.8%(1,291)
Irish4.8%(1,076)
American4.8%(1,068)
German4.5%(1,018)
Italian0.8%(187)
Scottish0.6%(137)
French0.6%(124)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(113)
Dutch0.4%(90)
British0.2%(38)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.2%(37)
Swiss0.1%(26)
Russian0.1%(23)
Slovak0.1%(15)
Turkish0.1%(13)
Polish0.1%(12)
Arab0%(8)
Welsh0%(5)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.9%
+20.8 ptssince 2000
from 65.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.0 min
+38%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 85.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% 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
13.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2011
from 45.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.8%
−32.6 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
44.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−44.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 21.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−73.3 ptssince 2013
from 81.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.7%
+34.4 ptssince 2017
from 48.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 94.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married45.4%(4,751)
Married35.5%(3,717)
Widowed3.4%(354)
Divorced15.7%(1,643)
Women 15+
Never married32.1%(2,571)
Married39%(3,126)
Widowed13.5%(1,084)
Divorced15.3%(1,225)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

Forrest CityCENTRAL12,308Hughes976Madison713Palestine476Caldwell419Colt283Wheatley259Widener202Goodwin56
What's inside

1 component county

St. Francis CountyCENTRAL21,800
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Forrest City

Cordele
Pop 19,237
Fitzgerald
Pop 17,099
Clarksdale
Pop 19,849
Eufaula
Pop 26,861
Places similar to Forrest City
Head to head

Compare Forrest City side by side

FORREST CITY VS
Cordele
Income$45,105+6%
Home value$140,200+54%
Population19,237−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
Fitzgerald
Income$41,758−2%
Home value$112,700+24%
Population17,099−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
Clarksdale
Income$37,461−12%
Home value$90,300−1%
Population19,849−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST CITY VS
Eufaula
Income$45,549+7%
Home value$112,202+23%
Population26,861+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest City, AR?

Forrest City, AR has about 22,400 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forrest City, AR?

The typical household in Forrest City, AR earns about $42,574 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forrest City, AR expensive?

In Forrest City, AR, the median home is worth about $90,900, and the typical rent is about $779 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest City, AR?

About 14.2% of adults age 25 and over in Forrest City, AR hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forrest City, AR?

About 28.5% of people in Forrest City, AR live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest City, AR grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest City, AR has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,097 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →