Elaine, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 487, Elaine'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

Elaine is a small community located in Arkansas, within Phillips County. The total population is 487. It ranks as the 305th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elaine is 46.0 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elaine is $29,792. 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 23.8%. This is 49% 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 41.5%. This is 741% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $64,800. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Elaine is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elaine is Black or African American, making up 76.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 22.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (22.0%) is well below the state average of 67.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (76.8% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

4.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 83% 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 75.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elaine, 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.