Bearden, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 826, Bearden's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bearden is a small community located in Arkansas, within Ouachita County. The total population is 826. It ranks as the 235th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bearden is 32.6 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 38.5 years. With 39.2% of the population under 18, Bearden has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bearden is $29,750. This is 51% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 63% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 48.4%. This is 203% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Bearden, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $74,600. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Bearden is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bearden is Black or African American, making up 47.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (47.5% vs 14.6%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

7.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 69% 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 81.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bearden, 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.