Forrest City city, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Forrest City city is a small city located in Arkansas. The total population is 12,826. It ranks as the 33rd most populous out of 617 cities and towns in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forrest City city is 36.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Forrest City city is $33,522. This is 43% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 57% lower. The poverty rate stands at 36.1%. This is 125% 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 10.6%. This is 108% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $87,800. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $175,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Forrest City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 38.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Forrest City city is Black or African American, making up 73.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 20.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (20.8%) is well below the state average of 68.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (73.7% vs 14.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 8.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

11.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% lower 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 83.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Forrest City 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.