City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Black Rock, AR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Black Rock - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

790
Residents
$59,531
Median income
$68,300
Median home
$880
Median rent (state)

Black Rock - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Black Rock places in the 34th percentile for household income and the 79th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

34th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
79th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Black Rock, AR

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 790 residents in Black Rock, a small town within Arkansas. Black Rock households earn a median of $59,531 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.8%. Typical homes in Black Rock are valued around $68,300, and the median resident age is 39.3 years. About 4.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 46.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 39 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). Black Rock reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 651.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: the state registers 86.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $880 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arkansas's average monthly utility costs around $210 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 67.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

790 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$59,531 /yr

Poverty 14.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Black Rock compare to other US cities?

Where Black Rock sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 34% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities
Safety 79% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Arkansas and the picture shifts: Black Rock ranks #17 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Black Rock against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arkansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arkansas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Black Rock near the bottom of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Black Rock ranks #277 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Black Rock only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#146 of 495
70th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#277 of 524
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#409 of 482
15th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#227 of 524
56th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#471 of 524
10th percentile in Arkansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arkansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

34thIncome percentile
79thSafety percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income · 79th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Black Rock's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Black Rock's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 70 Avg. percentile National median
Black Rock's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Black Rock's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$68,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Black Rock $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Black Rock, AR Black Rock, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Black Rock, AR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Black Rock, AR median $59,531/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Black Rock, AR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Black Rock, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
790
Median Income
$59,531
Median Home Value
$68,300
Median Age
39.3
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Labor force participation
46.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
651.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
651.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
550 residents600 residents650 residents700 residents750 residents 202020212022202320242025 590 residents 697 residents ▲ +18.1%
Black Rock's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
39
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
20
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
49.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 2
2022 12
2023 15
2024 39

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
55.6%
Carpool
38.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
2.9%

Based on 277 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arkansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$210
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arkansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arkansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Black Rock sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$880/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
67.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Bearden
793 people
Keiser
796 people
Floyd
800 people
Luxora
778 people
Rockport
777 people
Imboden
773 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Black Rock's 790 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Talbotton, GA
790 people
Hennepin, IL
790 people
Waynetown, IN
790 people
Science Hill, KY
790 people
Woodlawn Park, KY
790 people
Eden, MD
790 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Black Rock's $59,531 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Barboursville, WV
$59,531 median income
Monroe, MI
$59,532 median income
Taylor, MI
$59,537 median income
Chisholm, ME
$59,524 median income
Bayshore, OR
$59,538 median income
Roan Mountain, TN
$59,539 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Black Rock, AR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Black Rock, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 94.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Black Rock compares to nearby Arkansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Black Rock (this city) 790 $59,531
Bearden 793 $28,143
Keiser 796 $53,053
Floyd 800 $80,795
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Black Rock, AR?

What is the population of Black Rock, AR? +

Black Rock, AR has a population of 790 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Black Rock, AR? +

Median annual household income in Black Rock runs $59,531, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Black Rock? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Black Rock; the closest available measure is the Arkansas state average, a cost of living index of 86.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arkansas vary by metro area.

Is Black Rock, AR safe? +

Black Rock has a total crime rate of 651.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Black Rock, AR? +

Homes in Black Rock carry a median value of $68,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.