Chidester, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 305, Chidester'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

Chidester is a small community located in Arkansas, within Ouachita County. The total population is 305. It ranks as the 383rd most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chidester is 57.4 years. This is 49% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. Only 8.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 20.3% 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 Chidester is $24,265. This is 60% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 70% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 48.0%. This is 200% 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 Chidester, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $68,800. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Chidester is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chidester is Black or African American, making up 72.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 26.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (26.2%) is well below the state average of 67.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (72.8% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

5.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 80.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chidester, 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.