Fayetteville city, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fayetteville city is a mid-sized community located in Arkansas. The total population is 97,227. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 617 cities and towns in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fayetteville city is 28.7 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fayetteville city is $59,074. This is about average than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.4%. This is 33% 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 4.9%. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $322,500. Housing costs are 84% higher than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 41.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fayetteville city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The Black or African American population (5.2%) is well below the state average of 14.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.0% vs 1.5%).

Education

49.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Fayetteville city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 98% higher than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%. Notably, 22.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fayetteville city, Arkansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Arkansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 617 Census-designated places in Arkansas. For official data, visit data.census.gov.