Des Arc, Arkansas

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Des Arc, compared with Arkansas and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Des Arc city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 0518550 · Arkansas directory

Population · July 1, 2025
1,841 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
-0.4% -7 residents
Household income
$30,921 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$4,464
Home value
$90,700 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$19,549
Monthly gross rent
$424 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$202
Median age
48.8 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±5.9
Des Arc, Arkansas location in the United States Des Arc, Arkansas
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Des Arc is an incorporated city in Prairie County, Arkansas. With 1,841 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 141st in Arkansas and 7,974th nationally among Census places. Its population fell by 7 (0.4%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has declined 3.4%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $424 a month, 55.2% below the Arkansas median. Median household income is $30,921, 49.1% below the Arkansas median.

What stands out in Des Arc?

Compared with other Arkansas places, Des Arc is most distinctive for lower rents, fewer households with broadband and lower household incomes. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Median gross rent: $424, 55.2% below the Arkansas median ($947); lower than 97% of 331 Arkansas places with reliable estimates. Only 8 of 331 Arkansas places with reliable estimates are lower.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: 65.1%, 21.7 percentage points below the Arkansas rate (86.7%); lower than 93% of 455 Arkansas places with reliable estimates.
  • Median household income: $30,921, 49.1% below the Arkansas median ($60,773); lower than 91% of 367 Arkansas places with reliable estimates.
  • Residents per square mile of land: 876; higher than 84% of 500 Arkansas places with reliable estimates.
  • Median age: 48.8 years, 10.3 years older than the Arkansas median (38.5 years); higher than 76% of 439 Arkansas places with reliable estimates.

How Des Arc compares with Arkansas and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among Arkansas places with reliable estimates
Measure Des Arc Arkansas U.S. Position in Arkansas
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 -3.4% — — lower than 69% of 449 Arkansas places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 876 — — higher than 84% of 500 Arkansas places
Median household income B19013 $30,921 ±$4,464 $60,773 $80,734 lower than 91% of 367 Arkansas places
Median home value B25077 $90,700 ±$19,549 $188,000 $332,700 lower than 73% of 376 Arkansas places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $456 ±$215 $1,040 $3,119 lower than 71% of 355 Arkansas places
Median gross rent B25064 $424 ±$202 $947 $1,413 lower than 97% of 331 Arkansas places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 49.1% ±12.9 pp 44.8% 51.1% higher than 50% of 183 Arkansas places
Homeownership rate B25003 62.2% ±8.5 pp 66.4% 65.2% lower than 67% of 451 Arkansas places
Median age B01002 48.8 years ±5.9 38.5 years 38.9 years higher than 76% of 439 Arkansas places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 10.1% ±5.3 pp · low precision 25.7% 35.7% Not ranked: low precision
Poverty rate B17001 20.0% ±7.8 pp 16.0% 12.5% lower than 59% of 204 Arkansas places
People without health insurance B27010 9.9% ±5.4 pp · low precision 9.0% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 65.1% ±7.3 pp 86.7% 91.0% lower than 93% of 455 Arkansas places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 4.2% ±4.8 pp · low precision 4.9% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 0.0% ±0.8 pp · low precision 5.4% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 34.2 — — lower than 56% of 221 Arkansas places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +9.7% — — higher than 76% of 191 Arkansas places
Workers who work from home B08301 2.5% ±3.4 pp · low precision 8.8% 15.1% Not ranked: low precision
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 18.3% ±9.2 pp · low precision 11.4% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 9.1% ±6.3 pp · low precision 5.9% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision

Positions compare Des Arc with Arkansas places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 7 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Des Arc?

The latest official estimate is 1,841 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 7,974th by population nationally and 141st in Arkansas among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 7 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Des Arc population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 1,749 to 1,956; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 1,956 1,749 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 1,906; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 1,899 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 1,866 -33
July 1, 2022 1,851 -15
July 1, 2023 1,855 +4
July 1, 2024 1,848 -7
July 1, 2025 1,841 -7

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is −65 residents (-3.4%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Des Arc city, Arkansas · Incorporated city · 0518550
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Prairie County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
No county-to-CBSA association is listed in the retained July 2023 delineations for these county codes. County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
2.1 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.0 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
876 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
34.978433°, -91.506835° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $30,921 ±$4,464 $60,773 ±$467 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $25,639 ±$4,370 $34,225 ±$328 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 1,511
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 302 ±133 20.0% ±7.8 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 20.0% (±7.8 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $90,700 ±$19,549 $188,000 ±$1,754 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $424 ±$202 $947 ±$6 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 690
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 429 ±97 62.2% ±8.5 pp
Renter occupied 261 ±92 37.8% ±11.5 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 62.2% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 2.9 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
1 bedroom $605 ±$523 Low precision
2 bedrooms $329 ±$250 Low precision
3 bedrooms $544 ±$367 Low precision
4 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 1,428
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 671 ±172 47.0% ±8.3 pp
Not in the labor force 757 ±179 53.0% ±7.8 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 671
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 643 ±164 95.8% ±34.7 pp
Civilian unemployed 28 ±33 · low precision 4.2% ±4.8 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Des Arc wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Des Arc. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 21.6% (139 people; ±9.2 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 643
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 85 ±50 · low precision 13.2% ±7.0 pp · low precision
Construction 78 ±56 · low precision 12.1% ±8.1 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 88 ±48 · low precision 13.7% ±6.6 pp
Wholesale trade 10 ±23 · low precision 1.6% ±3.6 pp · low precision
Retail trade 49 ±43 · low precision 7.6% ±6.4 pp · low precision
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 50 ±43 · low precision 7.8% ±6.4 pp · low precision
Information 2 ±14 · low precision 0.3% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 24 ±24 · low precision 3.7% ±3.7 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 10 ±12 · low precision 1.6% ±1.8 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 139 ±69 21.6% ±9.2 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 27 ±29 · low precision 4.2% ±4.4 pp · low precision
Other services, except public administration 58 ±43 · low precision 9.0% ±6.3 pp · low precision
Public administration 23 ±27 · low precision 3.6% ±4.1 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 643
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 205 ±84 31.9% ±10.3 pp
Service occupations 115 ±55 17.9% ±7.2 pp
Sales and office 102 ±59 · low precision 15.9% ±8.2 pp · low precision
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 70 ±44 · low precision 10.9% ±6.2 pp · low precision
Production, transportation and material moving 151 ±78 · low precision 23.5% ±10.5 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 643
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 105 ±62 · low precision 16.3% ±8.7 pp · low precision
Computer and mathematical occupations 0 ±18 · low precision 0.0% ±2.9 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 61 ±47 · low precision 9.5% ±6.9 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 2 ±14 · low precision 0.3% ±2.2 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 56 ±49 · low precision 8.7% ±7.3 pp · low precision
Transportation occupations 58 ±48 · low precision 9.0% ±7.1 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 633
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 509 ±149 80.4% ±11.9 pp
Carpooled 69 ±50 · low precision 10.9% ±7.4 pp · low precision
Public transportation 0 ±13 · low precision 0.0% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±13 · low precision 0.0% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±13 · low precision 0.0% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Bicycle 0 ±13 · low precision 0.0% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Walked 6 ±10 · low precision 0.9% ±1.6 pp · low precision
Other means 33 ±38 · low precision 5.2% ±5.9 pp · low precision
Worked from home 16 ±22 · low precision 2.5% ±3.4 pp · low precision
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 617
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 273 ±88 44.2% ±8.7 pp
15–29 minutes 175 ±95 · low precision 28.4% ±13.7 pp
30–44 minutes 56 ±74 · low precision 9.1% ±11.8 pp · low precision
45–59 minutes 90 ±59 · low precision 14.6% ±8.8 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 23 ±24 · low precision 3.7% ±3.7 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 690
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 63 ±45 · low precision 9.1% ±6.3 pp · low precision

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 48.8 years (±5.9). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Arkansas and the U.S.

Read Des Arc demographics →

How many jobs are located in Des Arc?

Employers in Des Arc reported 635 jobs in 2023, +9.7% compared with 2019 (579 jobs). That is 34.2 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Des Arc by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs Arkansas share
Health care and social assistance 164 25.8% 16.3%
Retail trade 137 21.6% 10.7%
Educational services 87 13.7% 8.6%
Public administration 73 11.5% 3.2%
Construction 40 6.3% 5.5%
Wholesale trade 40 6.3% 4.2%
Manufacturing 31 4.9% 13.2%
Finance and insurance 28 4.4% 3.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 13 2.0% 1.0%
Accommodation and food services 10 1.6% 8.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 0.8% 1.2%
Administrative, support and waste management services 4 0.6% 6.0%
Information 1 0.2% 1.2%
Professional, scientific and technical services 1 0.2% 4.0%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 1 0.2% 1.3%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Des Arc · 2023
Group Jobs Share Arkansas share
$1,250 a month or less 100 15.7% 18.0%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 264 41.6% 33.2%
More than $3,333 a month 271 42.7% 48.8%
Age 29 or younger 141 22.2% 24.5%
Age 30 to 54 340 53.5% 52.9%
Age 55 or older 154 24.3% 22.6%

Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Des Arc (25.8% of local jobs, compared with 16.3% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

DES ARC, AR (NOAA station USC00031968) is approximately 0.8 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

DES ARC monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 30 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 100 30 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
DES ARC · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 48.9 32.6 3.68
February 53.9 36.1 4.04
March 62.9 44.4 5.16
April 72.6 53.2 5.53
May 81.0 62.4 5.40
June 88.9 70.6 3.01
July 92.0 73.4 3.10
August 91.4 71.9 2.89
September 84.9 64.6 3.32
October 74.7 52.6 4.23
November 61.7 42.7 4.43
December 51.8 35.6 5.25

Station location: 34.9772°, -91.4978°; elevation 61.0 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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