Shirley, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 269, Shirley'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

Shirley is a small community located in Arkansas, within Van Buren County. The total population is 269. It ranks as the 403rd most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shirley is 48.8 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.0% 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 Shirley is $37,344. This is 39% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.5%. This is 72% 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 0.9%. This is 82% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $103,100. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Shirley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shirley has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 90.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shirley, 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.