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Melbourne city, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

High PovertyPoverty rate of 36.4% is well above the state average

As of 2026, Melbourne city, Arkansas has a total population of 2,227, the 140th largest city in Arkansas, with a median household income of $34,303, which is 42% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 36.4%.

Key Takeaways

Melbourne city Quick Facts

Population 2,227
Median Household Income $34,303
Median Home Value $203,000
Poverty Rate 36.4%
Unemployment Rate 5.9%
Median Age 35.8 years
Homeownership Rate 55.1%
Affordability Ratio 5.9x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.8%
High School Graduation Rate 85.6%
Diversity Index 6/100
Population 2,227 140th of 617
Median Income $34,303 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 36.4% 192% higher national
Median Home Value $203,000 top 20%

How Melbourne city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1% | National: 5.2%
44.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.1%
Renter 44.9%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

6out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 50 | National average: 60

Education

Melbourne city Rankings in Arkansas

#140 Population of 617
#448 Median Income of 617
#227 Education of 617
#57 Home Value of 617

Cities Similar to Melbourne city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Carlisle city2,175$34,858$132,60012.6%19.4%
Eureka Springs city2,269$41,821$246,90025.3%10.5%
Marked Tree city2,235$45,197$85,70015.6%27.5%
Dover city1,932$33,491$106,70013.8%24.1%
Lake Village city2,280$44,803$120,20021.4%18.0%

Population Overview

Melbourne city is a small community located in Arkansas. The total population is 2,227. It ranks as the 140th most populous out of 617 cities and towns in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Melbourne city is 35.8 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Melbourne city is $34,303. This is 42% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 56% lower. The poverty rate stands at 36.4%. This is 127% 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 5.9%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $203,000. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 55.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Melbourne city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 14.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 8.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 85.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Melbourne 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.

Free data download: Get all Arkansas city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Melbourne city, Arkansas?

Melbourne city, Arkansas has a population of 2,227 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Melbourne city, AR?

The median household income in Melbourne city is $34,303, which is 56% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Melbourne city, AR?

The poverty rate in Melbourne city is 36.4%. This means approximately 769 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Melbourne city, Arkansas?

Melbourne city's population is 96.7% White, 0.4% Black, 1.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Melbourne city, AR?

The median home value in Melbourne city is $203,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x.

How educated is Melbourne city, Arkansas?

15.8% of adults (25+) in Melbourne city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.