Desha, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 679, Desha'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

Desha is a small community located in Arkansas, within Independence County. The total population is 679. It ranks as the 260th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Desha is 60.0 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. Only 6.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.8% 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 Desha is $68,403. This is 13% higher than the state median of $60,773. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Desha, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $117,600. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Desha is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Desha was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 90.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Desha, 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.