City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

El Dorado, AR

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

17,382
Residents
$45,159
Median income
$113,100
Median home
$923
Median rent (state)

El Dorado - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, El Dorado places in the 13th percentile for household income and the 4th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

13th
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
4th
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: El Dorado, AR

Arkansas's El Dorado is a small town, with 17,382 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. El Dorado households earn a median of $45,159 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.2%. Home values in El Dorado run a median of $113,100, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. Educational attainment runs 17.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 13 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 30% from five years earlier. El Dorado's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 4806.3 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $923 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arkansas run around $210, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 14.2 minutes, with 81.6% driving alone and 9.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 53.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

17,382 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$45,159 /yr

Poverty 20.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does El Dorado compare to other US cities?

Here's how El Dorado stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 4% 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, El Dorado ranks #151 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 El Dorado against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arkansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arkansas-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Arkansas's city distribution

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, El Dorado ranks #139 - the 73rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares El Dorado only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#277 of 495
44th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#195 of 524
60th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#226 of 482
53rd percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#139 of 524
73rd percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#181 of 524
65th 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.

13thIncome percentile
4thSafety percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income · 4th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

El Dorado's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

El Dorado'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
El Dorado'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 El Dorado's home value compares nationally

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

$113,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. El Dorado $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 - El Dorado, AR El Dorado, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not El Dorado, 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 El Dorado, AR median $45,159/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%
El Dorado, 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 El Dorado, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.0%

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

Population
17,382
Median Income
$45,159
Median Home Value
$113,100
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Labor force participation
53.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4806.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1319.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3487.3
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
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,000 residents16,500 residents17,000 residents17,500 residents18,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,702 residents 16,609 residents ▼ -6.2%
El Dorado's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 9
2021 12
2022 12
2023 13
2024 13

Permit volume increased 30% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.2 minutes
Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
6.1%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
9.4%
Other
0.9%

Based on 7,060 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 El Dorado sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$923/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
53.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Siloam Springs
18,096 people
Maumelle
19,286 people
Centerton
20,212 people
Marion
13,641 people
Bryant
21,125 people
Harrison
13,217 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to El Dorado's 17,382 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Aurora, OH
17,386 people
Rancho Mirage, CA
17,375 people
South Venice, FL
17,399 people
Royse City, TX
17,357 people
Richmond Hill, GA
17,408 people
New Castle, IN
17,356 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to El Dorado's $45,159 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Manton, MI
$45,158 median income
Rockland, MI
$45,156 median income
Fairmount, IN
$45,163 median income
Rogue River, OR
$45,163 median income
Tularosa, NM
$45,147 median income
Woodbine, NJ
$45,179 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - El Dorado, 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 El Dorado, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 45.0% 48.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 45.0% Black or African American 48.4% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 4.5% 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 El Dorado 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
El Dorado (this city) 17,382 $45,159
Siloam Springs 18,096 $65,725
Maumelle 19,286 $92,466
Centerton 20,212 $112,920
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about El Dorado, AR?

What is the population of El Dorado, AR? +

The population of El Dorado, AR stands at 17,382 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in El Dorado, AR? +

In El Dorado, the typical household earns $45,159 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in El Dorado? +

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

El Dorado has a total crime rate of 4806.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 El Dorado, AR? +

The median home value in El Dorado is $113,100, 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.