City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Decatur, AR

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

1,516
Residents
$43,239
Median income
$141,800
Median home
$1,347
Median rent (state)

Decatur - the verdict

Nationally, Decatur sits in the 11th percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

11th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
50th
percentile, median rent
35th
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: Decatur, AR

1,516 people live in Decatur, Arkansas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $43,239 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.3%. Decatur's housing stock carries a median value of $141,800, and the median resident age is 36.8 years. About 13.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 67 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 6600% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 1874.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,347 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $210 across Arkansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Decatur report an average commute of 21.9 minutes, with 93.1% driving alone and 3.5% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 88.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,516 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$43,239 /yr

Poverty 15.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Decatur compare to other US cities?

Decatur measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 50% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Arkansas, Decatur ranks #86 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Decatur 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 is Decatur's strongest outlier among Arkansas cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Decatur ranks #1 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Decatur only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#304 of 495
39th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 524
92nd percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#146 of 482
70th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#219 of 524
58th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#255 of 524
51st 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.

11thIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

11th percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Decatur's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Decatur'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 36 Avg. percentile National median
Decatur'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 Decatur's home value compares nationally

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

$141,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Decatur $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 - Decatur, AR Decatur, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Decatur, 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 Decatur, AR median $43,239/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%
Decatur, 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 Decatur, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.5%

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

Population
1,516
Median Income
$43,239
Median Home Value
$141,800
Median Age
36.8
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Labor force participation
48.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1874.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
644.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1230.2
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.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,700 residents1,750 residents1,800 residents1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,789 residents 1,893 residents ▲ +5.8%
Decatur's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
67
housing units authorized
Single-Family
67
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
44.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 67

Permit volume increased 6600% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.9 minutes
Drive Alone
93.1%
Carpool
3.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.5%

Based on 579 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 Decatur sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,347/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Newark
1,522 people
Stamps
1,510 people
Avilla
1,549 people
McAlmont
1,473 people
Salem
1,471 people
Clarendon
1,565 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Decatur's 1,516 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Smethport, PA
1,516 people
Weissport East, PA
1,516 people
Lake Sherwood, CA
1,515 people
Grayville, IL
1,515 people
Mount Carroll, IL
1,515 people
Cecilia, LA
1,517 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Decatur's $43,239 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Barnwell, SC
$43,239 median income
Jackson, MS
$43,238 median income
Lancaster, SC
$43,234 median income
Moberly, MO
$43,231 median income
Hooven, OH
$43,229 median income
Daniel, WY
$43,229 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Decatur, 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 Decatur, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.9% 27.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.2% White 58.9% Black or African American 5.6% Asian 1.7% American Indian 3.8% Native Hawaiian 1.3% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 27.2% 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 Decatur 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
Decatur (this city) 1,516 $43,239
Newark 1,522 $34,770
Stamps 1,510 $33,152
Avilla 1,549 $118,171
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Decatur, AR?

What is the population of Decatur, AR? +

1,516 people live in Decatur, AR according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Decatur, AR? +

The median household income in Decatur is $43,239 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Decatur? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Decatur; 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 Decatur, AR safe? +

Decatur has a total crime rate of 1874.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Decatur, AR? +

Homes in Decatur carry a median value of $141,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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.