City · Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, city, in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Fort Smith had 90,855 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 89,142 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 89,805 (±75). GEOID 0524550.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
90,855
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 89,142 · ACS 2020-2024: 89,805 ±75
Median household income
$54,816
±$2,402 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$178,100
±$8,924 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$884
±$32 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Fort Smith and what county is it in?
Fort Smith is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas. It covers 64.2 square miles of land, 1,389 residents per square mile in 2020.
Fort Smith is in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (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 Fort Smith, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 90,855 people lived in Fort Smith on July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 89,142 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 89,805 (±75).
| Measure | Fort Smith | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 89,805 ±75 | 128,900 | +2,062 |
| Households | 36,775 ±632 | 52,181 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40 ±0.04 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 40,475 ±462 | 57,470 | no clear change |
Fort Smith's population since 2000
From 80,268 in 2000 to 90,855 in 2025: up 13.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith?
The median resident of Fort Smith is 36.5 years old; 23.8% are under 18 and 16.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.5%. 11.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Fort Smith | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±0.6 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.8% ±0.5 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.0% ±0.6 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±0.7 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.5% ±0.6 pts | 16.0% | +1.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.1% ±0.8 pts | 66.2% | −1.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±0.7 pts | 5.1% | −2.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.5 pts | 4.3% | −0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.0% ±0.8 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.9% ±1.1 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 20.9% ±1.1 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±0.8 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 22.7% ±1.4 pts | 22.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.7% ±1.5 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.7% ±1.5 pts | 85.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.9% ±1.7 pts | 23.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.9% ±1.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.4% ±1.4 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.0% ±0.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
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 Fort Smith earn?
Half of Fort Smith's 36,775 households earn less than $54,816 a year (±$2,402), against $57,790 in Sebastian County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $51,349 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Fort Smith | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,816 ±$2,402 | $57,790 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $85,471 ±$13,008 | $87,364 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,413 ±$4,182 | $34,992 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.3% ±1.7 pts | 16.0% | −2.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.6% ±4.0 pts | 19.5% | −7.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.3% ±1.7 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.3% ±1.1 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.4% ±1.8 pts | 86.0% | – |
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 Fort Smith?
Owners occupy 53.4% of Fort Smith's occupied homes and renters 46.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,100 by its owner (±$8,924). The median renter pays $884 a month including utilities, and 35.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Fort Smith | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $178,100 ±$8,924 | $176,200 | +$28,201 |
| Median gross rent | $884 ±$32 | $886 | +$41 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.0% ±3.3 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,321 ±$92 | $1,255 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.4% ±2.2 pts | 61.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.6% ±2.2 pts | 38.6% | – |
| Housing units | 40,475 ±462 | 57,470 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% ±1.8 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.2% ±1.8 pts | 70.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.2% ±1.4 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2% ±0.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.6% ±1.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
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 Fort Smith building?
Builders took permits for 384 new housing units in Fort Smith in 2025 (86 in single-family houses), 4.2 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 Fort Smith work and get to work?
77.4% of Fort Smith's workers drive alone and 7.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Fort Smith | Sebastian County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.9% ±1.3 pts | 60.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±0.9 pts | 5.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.4% ±2.4 pts | 78.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.5% ±1.7 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.8% ±1.3 pts | 7.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.8 min ±0.8 | 19.3 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 Fort Smith?
23 census tracts lie mostly in Fort Smith, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $31,872 (Tract 4) to $115,774 (Tract 13.11).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1Sebastian County | 6,295 | $40,542 |
| Tract 6Sebastian County | 5,308 | $49,512 |
| Tract 5.01Sebastian County | 5,201 | $37,164 |
| Tract 2Sebastian County | 5,169 | $52,622 |
| Tract 13.05Sebastian County | 4,846 | $66,941 |
| Tract 7Sebastian County | 4,759 | $48,799 |
| Tract 13.10Sebastian County | 5,155 | $59,694 |
| Tract 11.01Sebastian County | 4,511 | $51,916 |
| Tract 10.01Sebastian County | 4,265 | $38,056 |
| Tract 13.12Sebastian County | 4,197 | $68,796 |
| Tract 8Sebastian County | 3,891 | $31,900 |
| Tract 12.01Sebastian County | 3,873 | $55,632 |
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 Fort Smith) · Census block assignment files
How does Fort Smith compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Fort Smith is the 388th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Fort Smith ranks 80th 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 | 3rd | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 89th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 15th | 197 |
| Median household income | 80th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 46th | 197 |
| Median home value | 60th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 72nd | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 96th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52nd | 189 |
| Median age | 116th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 158th | 197 |
| Work from home | 51st | 76 |
| Travel time to work | 167th | 197 |
Fort Smith's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith?
5 of the 57 figures for Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith.