City · Arkansas
Forrest City, Arkansas
Forrest City, city, in St. Francis County, Arkansas. Forrest City had 12,308 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 13,015 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,646 (±19). GEOID 0524430.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,308
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,015 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,646 ±19
Median household income
$35,689
±$8,903 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$92,000
±$14,159 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$805
±$56 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Forrest City and what county is it in?
Forrest City is a city in St. Francis County, Arkansas. It covers 20.2 square miles of land, 643 residents per square mile in 2020.
Forrest City is in the Forrest City, AR micropolitan statistical area (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 Forrest City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,308 people lived in Forrest City on July 1, 2025, down 5.4% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020 Census counted 13,015 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,646 (±19).
| Measure | Forrest City | St. Francis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,646 ±19 | 22,400 | −1,639 |
| Households | 3,831 ±304 | 7,783 | −527 |
| Average household size | 2.53 ±0.19 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,608 ±251 | 9,570 | −509 |
Forrest City's population since 2000
From 14,774 in 2000 to 12,308 in 2025: down 16.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Forrest City 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 Forrest City?
The median resident of Forrest City is 36.9 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 11.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 73.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 20.8%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Forrest City | St. Francis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 ±1.4 | 40.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3% ±1.5 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.6% ±1.4 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 58.6% ±1.6 pts | 55.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.8% ±1.3 pts | 3.7% | +2.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 20.8% ±2.3 pts | 39.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 73.1% ±2.6 pts | 54.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±1.7 pts | 2.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.3% ±1.9 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.8% ±1.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 24.3% ±4.1 pts | 23.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.7% ±3.2 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.9% ±3.0 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.8% ±4.0 pts | 14.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.3% ±2.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.9% ±3.9 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
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 Forrest City earn?
Half of Forrest City's 3,831 households earn less than $35,689 a year (±$8,903), against $42,574 in St. Francis County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $37,926 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 37.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Forrest City | St. Francis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $35,689 ±$8,903 | $42,574 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $48,025 ±$6,410 | $58,099 | – |
| Per capita income | $16,688 ±$2,329 | $22,140 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 37.7% ±6.9 pts | 28.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 54.5% ±13.5 pts | 42.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 34.0% ±7.1 pts | 24.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.8% ±2.8 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.4% ±4.9 pts | 82.7% | – |
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 Forrest City?
Owners occupy 39.2% of Forrest City's occupied homes and renters 60.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $92,000 by its owner (±$14,159). The median renter pays $805 a month including utilities, and 51.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Forrest City | St. Francis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $92,000 ±$14,159 | $90,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $805 ±$56 | $779 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.5% ±10.1 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,004 ±$119 | $1,009 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 39.2% ±5.4 pts | 55.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 60.8% ±5.4 pts | 44.5% | – |
| Housing units | 4,608 ±251 | 9,570 | −509 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.7% ±4.4 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 63.3% ±4.8 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% ±2.9 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.1% ±2.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.8% ±5.5 pts | 13.3% | – |
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 Forrest City building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Forrest City in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.1 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 Forrest City work and get to work?
79.2% of Forrest City's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 16.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.5%.
| Measure | Forrest City | St. Francis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 39.7% ±4.5 pts | 46.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.5% ±4.6 pts | 9.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.2% ±6.6 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.1% ±5.9 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.6% ±2.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.7% ±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.4 min ±2.7 | 23.0 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 Forrest City?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Forrest City, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $23,235 (Tract 9604) to $50,456 (Tract 9605).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9606St. Francis County | 6,132 | $36,604 |
| Tract 9604St. Francis County | 4,112 | $23,235 |
| Tract 9605St. Francis County | 2,959 | $50,456 |
| Tract 9602.01St. Francis County | 1,984 | $45,337 |
| Tract 9602.02St. Francis County | 2,842 | $52,426 |
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 Forrest City) · Census block assignment files
How does Forrest City compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Forrest City is the 2,779th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 31st-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Forrest City ranks 175th 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 | 31st | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 153rd | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 109th | 197 |
| Median household income | 175th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 195th | 197 |
| Median home value | 166th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 100th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 5th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 136th | 189 |
| Median age | 110th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 193rd | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 173rd | 197 |
Forrest City's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Forrest City 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 Forrest City?
12 of the 57 figures for Forrest City 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 Forrest City 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 Forrest City.