City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Cotton Plant, AR

Cotton Plant's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

411
Residents
$12,043
Median income
$37,000
Median home
$944
Median rent (state)
View my watchlist

Compare or rank this city

Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

Compare with another city

Starting with Cotton Plant, AR - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Cotton Plant.

Place dossier plate

Sheet AR-COTTON-PLANT-AR · Cotton Plant, AR 411 pop · income 0th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 411
  • INC-LOW $12,043
  • COL-BELOW 86.9
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 0th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Yellow Bluff
  • HOME-LOW $37,000
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Yellow Bluff, AL (+ $64 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Cotton Plant

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Cotton Plant on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Cotton Plant on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 411.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $12,043. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Cotton Plant - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Cotton Plant places in the 0th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

0th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Cotton Plant, AR

Arkansas's Cotton Plant is a small town, with 411 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Cotton Plant brings in $12,043 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 57.5%. Home values in Cotton Plant run a median of $37,000, and the median resident age is 55.0 years. About 12.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 32.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arkansas scores 86.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $944 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arkansas's average monthly utility costs around $210 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 55.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Cotton Plant's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Cotton Plant, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, annual population history. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Cotton Plant?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 80.0%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Cotton Plant?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 57.5%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Cotton Plant?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Arkansas, the closest population matches are Turrell (409 residents, $35,833 income); Subiaco (408 residents, $53,125 income); McNeil (406 residents, $34,792 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Neponset, IL (411 residents); Carrollton, IN (411 residents); Orient, IA (411 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 4

Is Cotton Plant growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population declined by -42 residents from 2020 to 2025, a -8.0% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point downward. A falling count can reflect migration, household size, annexation boundaries, or estimation noise, so it is a prompt to inspect the full series rather than a claim about local economic health.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

411 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$12,043 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 57.5% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Very affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

City profile score · Cotton Plant, AR

27/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A+
86.9 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
12.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$12,043

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
57.5%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Cotton Plant profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate. Cost of livingBachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rate 27 F
Cotton Plant profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 97/100 (A+) · 86.9 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 13/100 (F) · 12.3%
  • Household income: 0/100 (F) · $12,043
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 57.5%

How does Cotton Plant compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 0% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cotton Plant 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 Cotton Plant near the bottom of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cotton Plant ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cotton Plant only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#495 of 495
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 524
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#475 of 482
1st percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#5 of 524
99th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#289 of 524
45th percentile in Arkansas
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

0thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

0th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cotton Plant's home value compares nationally

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

$37,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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. Cotton Plant $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

Cotton Plant's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#7,064 of 15,516
More affordable than 54% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,913 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.1×, Cotton Plant sits in the moderate band: national rank #7,064 of 15,516 and #5,913 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$12,043 Cotton Plant, AR median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Cotton Plant, AR Cotton Plant, AR's median household income ($12,043) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Cotton Plant, AR-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Cotton Plant, AR median $12,043/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%
Cotton Plant, AR median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Cotton Plant, AR.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 57.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.0%

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

Population
411
Median Income
$12,043
Median Home Value
$37,000
Median Age
55.0
Poverty Rate
57.5%
Labor force participation
32.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
460 residents480 residents500 residents520 residents540 residents 202020212022202320242025 524 residents 482 residents ▼ -8.0%
Cotton Plant's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 524 residents
2021 519 residents
2022 510 residents
2023 502 residents
2024 489 residents
2025 482 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.0%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
17.3%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 110 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Arkansas statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $210

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Arkansas at $210 (electricity about $110 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are Arkansas statewide averages, not a meter reading for Cotton Plant. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Arkansas's BEA cost-of-living index is 86.9 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Cotton Plant is $944/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Arkansas statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 55.5 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Arkansas statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Cotton Plant sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Cotton Plant compares to similar-size Arkansas cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Cotton Plant (this city) 411 $12,043
Turrell 409 $35,833
Subiaco 408 $53,125
McNeil 406 $34,792
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

Browse all city profiles → · Explore city rankings →

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

Share or download this profile