City · Arkansas
Hope, Arkansas
Hope, city, in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Hope had 8,445 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,952 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,671 (±20). GEOID 0533190.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,445
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,952 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,671 ±20
Median household income
$37,500
±$6,412 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$91,900
±$5,705 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$823
±$61 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Hope and what county is it in?
Hope is a city in Hempstead County, Arkansas. It covers 10.7 square miles of land, 838 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hope, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,445 people lived in Hope on July 1, 2025, down 5.7% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020 Census counted 8,952 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,671 (±20).
| Measure | Hope | Hempstead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,671 ±20 | 19,508 | −1,097 |
| Households | 3,522 ±318 | 7,479 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.38 ±0.21 | 2.57 | −0.41 |
| Housing units | 4,229 ±266 | 9,642 | no clear change |
Hope's population since 2000
From 10,616 in 2000 to 8,445 in 2025: down 20.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hope 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 Hope?
The median resident of Hope is 41.3 years old; 25.7% are under 18 and 19.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 44.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 32.0%. 10.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hope | Hempstead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 ±3.7 | 41.2 | +5.2 |
| Under 18 years | 25.7% ±2.9 pts | 25.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.4% ±2.9 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 50.2% ±3.4 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.6% ±4.0 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 32.0% ±4.8 pts | 51.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 44.0% ±4.9 pts | 28.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±2.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.0% ±2.3 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.4% ±3.0 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.9% ±2.2 pts | 5.2% | – |
| With a disability | 23.5% ±3.4 pts | 24.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.2% ±2.1 pts | 8.3% | −3.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.2% ±3.8 pts | 82.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.2% ±3.8 pts | 16.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.4% ±3.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.3% ±4.3 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
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 Hope earn?
Half of Hope's 3,522 households earn less than $37,500 a year (±$6,412), against $46,787 in Hempstead County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $46,560 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 23.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hope | Hempstead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,500 ±$6,412 | $46,787 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,169 ±$28,205 | $71,285 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,321 ±$10,652 | $28,673 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.4% ±5.7 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 33.3% ±10.5 pts | 26.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.8% ±4.9 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.6% ±3.9 pts | 85.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 78.8% ±7.3 pts | 75.7% | – |
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 Hope?
Owners occupy 60.4% of Hope's occupied homes and renters 39.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $91,900 by its owner (±$5,705). The median renter pays $823 a month including utilities, and 51.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hope | Hempstead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $91,900 ±$5,705 | $105,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $823 ±$61 | $815 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.6% ±14.8 pts | 49.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,174 ±$76 | $1,132 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.4% ±6.1 pts | 71.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.6% ±6.1 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 4,229 ±266 | 9,642 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±2.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.8% ±6.2 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.8% ±7.4 pts | 72.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.0% ±4.4 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.1% ±3.1 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.9% ±3.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.9% ±5.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
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 Hope building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Hope in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Hope work and get to work?
90.6% of Hope's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes.
| Measure | Hope | Hempstead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.7% ±5.1 pts | 51.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% ±4.5 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 90.6% ±4.3 pts | 86.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±3.5 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.3% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.3% ±2.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.4 min ±3.4 | 21.2 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 Hope?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Hope, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,556 (Tract 4803.01) to $52,094 (Tract 4805).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4805Hempstead County | 3,869 | $52,094 |
| Tract 4803.02Hempstead County | 3,029 | $45,746 |
| Tract 4803.01Hempstead County | 1,937 | $24,556 |
| Tract 4801.01Hempstead County | 2,706 | $57,180 |
| Tract 4804Hempstead County | 3,643 | $58,438 |
| Tract 4801.02Hempstead County | 2,329 | $46,250 |
| Tract 4802Hempstead County | 1,995 | $50,254 |
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 Hope) · Census block assignment files
How does Hope compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hope is the 3,614th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 45th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Hope ranks 168th 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 | 45th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 154th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 70th | 197 |
| Median household income | 168th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 55th | 197 |
| Median home value | 167th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 94th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 57th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 128th | 189 |
| Median age | 56th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 110th | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 139th | 197 |
Hope's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Hope 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 Hope?
12 of the 57 figures for Hope 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 Hope 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 Hope.