Emerson, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 239, Emerson'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

Emerson is a small community located in Arkansas, within Columbia County. The total population is 239. It ranks as the 419th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Emerson is 33.1 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 38.5 years. With 28.4% of the population under 18, Emerson has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Emerson is $55,938. This is 8% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 34.7%. This is 117% 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 Emerson, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $101,800. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Emerson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Emerson is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 95.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Emerson, 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.