Wheatley, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 374, Wheatley'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

Wheatley is a small community located in Arkansas, within St. Francis County. The total population is 374. It ranks as the 350th most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wheatley is 46.3 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. With 32.4% of the population under 18, Wheatley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.4% 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 Wheatley is $66,607. This is 10% higher than the state median of $60,773. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.7%. This is 77% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $170,800. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Wheatley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wheatley is Black or African American, making up 55.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.4% vs 14.6%).

Education

4.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 81% 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 90.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wheatley, 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.