City · Arkansas
Barling, Arkansas
Barling, city, in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Barling had 5,452 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 14.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,782 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,007 (±19). GEOID 0503640.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,452
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,782 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,007 ±19
Median household income
$54,387
±$8,170 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$140,000
±$19,129 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$1,128
±$130 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Barling and what county is it in?
Barling is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas. It covers 10.3 square miles of land, 466 residents per square mile in 2020.
Barling is in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Barling, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,452 people lived in Barling on July 1, 2025, up 14.1% since 2020, faster than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 4,782 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,007 (±19).
| Measure | Barling | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,007 ±19 | 128,900 | +97 |
| Households | 2,171 ±246 | 52,181 | +380 |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.25 | 2.43 | −0.46 |
| Housing units | 2,584 ±273 | 57,470 | +625 |
Barling's population since 2000
From 4,176 in 2000 to 5,452 in 2025: up 30.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Barling as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Barling?
The median resident of Barling is 42.5 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 19.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 71.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.3%. 9.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Barling | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 ±4.6 | 38.0 | +9.3 |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% ±3.9 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.8% ±3.6 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Male | 43.0% ±4.4 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.3% ±3.3 pts | 16.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 71.6% ±6.5 pts | 66.2% | −18.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±2.1 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.5% ±4.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2% ±2.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.2% ±3.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.9% ±5.7 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±3.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 24.7% ±7.7 pts | 22.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.9% ±2.4 pts | 10.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.3% ±5.4 pts | 85.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.1% ±7.3 pts | 23.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.4% ±2.8 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.8% ±4.0 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±2.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Barling earn?
Half of Barling's 2,171 households earn less than $54,387 a year (±$8,170), against $57,790 in Sebastian County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $58,388 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Barling | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,387 ±$8,170 | $57,790 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $64,364 ±$7,817 | $87,364 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,258 ±$3,308 | $34,992 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.1% ±4.5 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.2% ±14.8 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.1% ±2.5 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±4.6 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.1% ±7.9 pts | 86.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Barling?
Owners occupy 72.4% of Barling's occupied homes and renters 27.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $140,000 by its owner (±$19,129). The median renter pays $1,128 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Barling | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $140,000 ±$19,129 | $176,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,128 ±$130 | $886 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.1% ±20.1 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $977 ±$218 | $1,255 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.4% ±8.9 pts | 61.4% | +15.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.6% ±8.9 pts | 38.6% | – |
| Housing units | 2,584 ±273 | 57,470 | +625 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.5% ±3.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.5% ±13.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.0% ±6.3 pts | 70.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% ±5.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.5% ±2.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 15.1% ±7.6 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Barling building?
Builders took permits for 82 new housing units in Barling in 2025 (32 in single-family houses), 15.0 per 1,000 residents against 5.0 across Arkansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Barling work and get to work?
86.0% of Barling's workers drive alone and 9.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.9 minutes.
| Measure | Barling | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.8% ±5.4 pts | 60.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±2.4 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 86.0% ±5.6 pts | 78.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.8% ±3.6 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.0% ±4.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.9 min ±2.6 | 19.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Barling?
1 census tract lies mostly in Barling, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 13.08Sebastian County | 4,296 | $54,683 |
| Tract 13.07Sebastian County | 3,523 | $70,854 |
| Tract 102.01Sebastian County | 5,001 | $63,973 |
| Tract 101.01Sebastian County | 6,085 | $71,123 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Barling) · Census block assignment files
How does Barling compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Barling is the 4,663rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 66th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Barling ranks 81st of 194 places in Arkansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 66th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 23rd | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 143rd | 197 |
| Median household income | 81st | 194 |
| Per capita income | 87th | 197 |
| Median home value | 104th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 26th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 120th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73rd | 189 |
| Median age | 43rd | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 48th | 197 |
| Work from home | 46th | 76 |
| Travel time to work | 156th | 197 |
Barling's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Barling with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Barling?
16 of the 57 figures for Barling on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Barling are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Barling.