Ash Flat, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ash Flat is a small community located in Arkansas, within Sharp County. The total population is 1,217. It ranks as the 190th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ash Flat is 54.6 years. This is 42% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ash Flat is $41,667. This is 31% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.4%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $94,000. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Ash Flat is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ash Flat has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.2%. The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

13.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 25.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ash Flat, Arkansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Arkansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.