Rector, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Rector, Arkansas had a total population of 1,750, the 164th largest city in Arkansas, with a median household income of $47,760, which is 21% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
Rector Quick Facts
How Rector 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 | 1,631 | 1,750 | +7.3% |
| Median household income | $41,534 | $47,760 | +15.0% |
| Median home value | $82,500 | $91,300 | +10.7% |
How Rector 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+)
Rector Rankings in Arkansas
Explore Arkansas Rankings
Other Cities in Clay County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piggott | 3,555 | $44,468 | 21.4% | $115,500 |
| Corning | 3,134 | $50,408 | 14.8% | $89,500 |
| Greenway | 261 | $39,375 | 27.6% | $46,300 |
| St. Francis | 177 | $37,188 | 11.3% | $47,800 |
| Knobel | 158 | $98,242 | 12.0% | $9,999 |
| Pollard | 143 | $44,167 | 9.9% | $81,700 |
| McDougal | 116 | $50,625 | 13.8% | $81,400 |
| Success | 92 | $41,250 | 17.4% | N/A |
| Peach Orchard | 86 | N/A | 20.9% | $48,300 |
| Datto | 67 | $36,667 | 22.4% | $52,500 |
Cities Similar to Rector
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | 1,783 | $50,568 | $161,700 | 26.4% | 22.7% |
| Gurdon | 1,625 | $47,587 | $111,600 | 16.9% | 17.2% |
| Hazen | 1,874 | $49,225 | $134,400 | 18.3% | 14.7% |
| Mulberry | 1,646 | $50,428 | $135,900 | 10.6% | 16.4% |
| Augusta | 1,859 | $50,575 | $117,000 | 12.2% | 28.7% |
Population Overview
Rector is a small community located in Arkansas, within Clay County. The total population is 1,750. It ranks as the 164th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Rector is 37.7 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.5 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Rector is $47,760. This is 21% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 26% 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 4.1%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $91,300. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Rector is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Rector has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 80.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Rector, 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.
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 Rector, Arkansas?
Rector, Arkansas has a population of 1,750 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Rector, AR?
The median household income in Rector is $47,760, which is 41% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Rector, AR?
The poverty rate in Rector is 20.2%. This means approximately 348 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Rector, Arkansas?
Rector's population is 94.2% White, 0.0% Black, 0.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Rector, AR?
The median home value in Rector is $91,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Rector, Arkansas?
16.5% of adults (25+) in Rector hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.