Russell, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 218, Russell'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

Russell is a small community located in Arkansas, within White County. The total population is 218. It ranks as the 429th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Russell is 37.5 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.5 years. With 28.4% of the population under 18, Russell has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 11.5% 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 Russell is $22,917. This is 62% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 72% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 53.2%. This is 233% 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 11.4%. This is 130% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $75,000. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $188,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 36.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Russell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

1.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 95% 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 80.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Russell, 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.