Little Rock city, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Little Rock city is a major urban center located in Arkansas. The total population is 202,739. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 617 cities and towns in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Little Rock city is 36.4 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Little Rock city is $60,583. This is 3% higher than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 2% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $221,200. Housing costs are 26% higher than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 54.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Little Rock city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 39.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (39.4% vs 14.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.0% vs 1.5%).

Education

44.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Little Rock city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 75% 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 92.3%. Notably, 19.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Little Rock 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.