Van Buren County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Van Buren County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 15,998. It is the 48th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Van Buren County is 49.6 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 11.8% 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 Van Buren County is $50,354. This is 17% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $135,700. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Van Buren County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Van Buren County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Van Buren County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Arkansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.