Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Horseshoe Bend is a small community located in Arkansas, within Sharp County. The total population is 2,555. It ranks as the 123rd most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Horseshoe Bend is 53.4 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 15.2% 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 Horseshoe Bend is $46,080. This is 24% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 64% 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 10.1%. This is 104% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $128,500. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Horseshoe Bend is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Horseshoe Bend has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 90.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Horseshoe Bend, 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.