Lafe, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Lafe, Arkansas had a total population of 478, the 306th largest town in Arkansas, with a median household income of $36,429, which is 40% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 43.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 40% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (43.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 8.2% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
- Unemployment rate of 8.3% is notably above the national average.
Lafe Quick Facts
How Lafe Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 433 | 478 | +10.4% |
| Median household income | $36,771 | $36,429 | -0.9% |
| Median home value | $73,800 | $82,400 | +11.7% |
How Lafe Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 51 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Lafe Rankings in Arkansas
Explore Arkansas Rankings
Other Cities in Greene County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paragould | 30,215 | $56,980 | 17.8% | $181,500 |
| Marmaduke | 1,240 | $51,250 | 23.7% | $112,200 |
| Oak Grove Heights | 1,164 | $82,292 | 7.4% | $184,900 |
| Walcott | 315 | $170,856 | 0.0% | $75,300 |
| Delaplaine | 85 | N/A | 42.4% | $104,700 |
Cities Similar to Lafe
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | 468 | $35,833 | $45,600 | 10.4% | 23.7% |
| Holly Grove | 495 | $36,333 | $78,500 | 19.5% | 27.3% |
| Cove | 462 | $39,688 | $75,000 | 9.1% | 22.3% |
| Salado | 507 | $39,355 | $221,800 | 2.9% | 1.4% |
| Strong | 434 | $36,063 | $66,600 | 8.8% | 35.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 478, Lafe'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
Lafe is a small community located in Arkansas, within Greene County. The total population is 478. It ranks as the 306th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lafe is 36.3 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.5 years. With 31.2% of the population under 18, Lafe has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lafe is $36,429. This is 40% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 43.4%. This is 171% 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 8.3%. This is 69% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $82,400. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Lafe is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
Lafe has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.7% of all residents.
Education
8.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% 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 83.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Lafe, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Lafe, Arkansas?
Lafe, Arkansas has a population of 478 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Lafe, AR?
The median household income in Lafe is $36,429, which is 55% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Lafe, AR?
The poverty rate in Lafe is 43.4%. This means approximately 207 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Lafe, Arkansas?
Lafe's population is 98.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Lafe, AR?
The median home value in Lafe is $82,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Lafe, Arkansas?
8.2% of adults (25+) in Lafe hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.