City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Kensett, AR

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

2,027
Residents
$27,839
Median income
$92,200
Median home
$880
Median rent (state)

Kensett - the verdict

Nationally, Kensett sits in the 2nd percentile for household income and the 53rd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

2nd
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
53rd
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: Kensett, AR

Kensett is a small town in Arkansas, home to 2,027 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Kensett brings in $27,839 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 37.0%. Home values in Kensett run a median of $92,200, and the median resident age is 36.8 years. 4.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 46.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Kensett (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Kensett reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1281.1 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as 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 $880 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $210 across Arkansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 85.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

2,027 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$27,839 /yr

Poverty 37.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Kensett compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities
Safety 53% 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, Kensett ranks #51 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 Kensett 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 places Kensett near the bottom of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Kensett ranks #277 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kensett only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#462 of 495
7th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#277 of 524
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#312 of 482
35th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#20 of 524
96th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#471 of 524
10th 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.

2ndIncome percentile
53rdSafety percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income · 53rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kensett's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kensett'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 50 Avg. percentile National median
Kensett'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 Kensett's home value compares nationally

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

$92,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Kensett $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 - Kensett, AR Kensett, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kensett, 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 Kensett, AR median $27,839/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%
Kensett, 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 Kensett, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 37.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.6%

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

Population
2,027
Median Income
$27,839
Median Home Value
$92,200
Median Age
36.8
Poverty Rate
37.0%
Labor force participation
46.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1281.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
427.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
854.1
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
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,400 residents1,410 residents1,420 residents1,430 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,405 residents 1,425 residents ▲ +1.4%
Kensett's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 0
2021 3
2022 3
2023 2
2024 2

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.2%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 727 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 Kensett sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$880/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

McCrory
2,062 people
Judsonia
2,092 people
Hazen
1,960 people
Dover
1,932 people
Danville
2,123 people
Cave City
1,930 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kensett's 2,027 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kirbyville, TX
2,027 people
Mexico, ME
2,026 people
Jermyn, PA
2,026 people
Gaston, SC
2,026 people
Lakesite, TN
2,026 people
Lopezville, TX
2,026 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kensett's $27,839 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Crowley, LA
$27,826 median income
Luis Lloréns Torres comunidad, PR
$27,813 median income
Boomer, WV
$27,875 median income
Pineview, GA
$27,798 median income
Houck, AZ
$27,885 median income
Logan, NM
$27,885 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kensett, 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 Kensett, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.5% 21.5% 9.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.5% White 68.5% Black or African American 21.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 9.9% 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 Kensett 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
Kensett (this city) 2,027 $27,839
McCrory 2,062 $49,318
Judsonia 2,092 $43,811
Hazen 1,960 $48,816
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kensett, AR?

What is the population of Kensett, AR? +

2,027 people live in Kensett, AR according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Kensett runs $27,839, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kensett? +

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

Kensett has a total crime rate of 1281.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Kensett, AR? +

Kensett's median home value sits at $92,200, 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.