Bradley, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 528, Bradley'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

Bradley is a small community located in Arkansas, within Lafayette County. The total population is 528. It ranks as the 289th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bradley is 51.0 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. Only 11.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bradley is $30,907. This is 49% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 62% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.1%. This is 63% 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 5.6%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $63,800. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Bradley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bradley is Black or African American, making up 65.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (33.5%) is well below the state average of 67.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (65.5% vs 14.6%).

Education

2.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 89% 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 50.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bradley, 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.