City · Arkansas
Lamar, Arkansas
Lamar, city, in Johnson County, Arkansas. Lamar had 1,776 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,719 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,783 (±398). GEOID 0538290.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,776
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,719 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,783 ±398
Median household income
$50,568
±$9,604 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$161,700
±$13,619 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$548
±$184 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Lamar and what county is it in?
Lamar is a city in Johnson County, Arkansas. It covers 4.6 square miles of land, 372 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 Lamar, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,776 people lived in Lamar on July 1, 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, in line with Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 1,719 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,783 (±398).
| Measure | Lamar | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,783 ±398 | 26,003 | no clear change |
| Households | 633 ±143 | 10,316 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.75 ±0.33 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 665 ±146 | 11,555 | −193 |
Lamar's population since 2000
From 1,415 in 2000 to 1,776 in 2025: up 25.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lamar 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 Lamar?
The median resident of Lamar is 35.5 years old; 32.3% are under 18 and 15.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.8%.
| Measure | Lamar | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 ±6.5 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 32.3% ±6.0 pts | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.7% ±5.3 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±6.1 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8% ±4.0 pts | 13.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.5% ±5.9 pts | 76.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±2.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 3.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7% ±2.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.8 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.5% ±5.5 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.8% ±4.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| With a disability | 18.4% ±4.3 pts | 21.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5% ±4.2 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.6% ±5.5 pts | 84.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.4% ±8.1 pts | 17.8% | +9.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.1% ±3.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.0% ±6.5 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±2.9 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Lamar earn?
Half of Lamar's 633 households earn less than $50,568 a year (±$9,604), against $45,995 in Johnson County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $38,921 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lamar | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,568 ±$9,604 | $45,995 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,719 ±$13,058 | $62,805 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,764 ±$4,267 | $25,637 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.7% ±8.1 pts | 19.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.7% ±15.6 pts | 25.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.8% ±8.0 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.6% ±5.5 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.2% ±8.3 pts | 74.3% | – |
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 Lamar?
Owners occupy 73.8% of Lamar's occupied homes and renters 26.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,700 by its owner (±$13,619). The median renter pays $548 a month including utilities, and 48.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lamar | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $161,700 ±$13,619 | $135,300 | +$41,830 |
| Median gross rent | $548 ±$184 | $728 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.4% ±20.6 pts | 36.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $976 ±$36 | $1,101 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.8% ±7.8 pts | 74.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.2% ±7.8 pts | 25.9% | – |
| Housing units | 665 ±146 | 11,555 | −193 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5% ±2.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% ±9.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.3% ±7.3 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.2% ±4.4 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.4% ±7.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7% ±2.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8% ±1.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 Lamar building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Lamar in 2025 (6 in single-family houses), 3.4 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 Lamar work and get to work?
82.4% of Lamar's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes.
| Measure | Lamar | Johnson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.3% ±6.9 pts | 51.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±1.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.4% ±8.3 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.0% ±6.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.8% ±3.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.3 min ±5.6 | 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 Lamar?
No census tract lies mostly in Lamar; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9522Johnson County | 5,144 | $60,240 |
| Tract 9521Johnson County | 3,865 | $40,046 |
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 Lamar) · Census block assignment files
How does Lamar compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lamar is the 8,115th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 147th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Lamar ranks 101st 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 | 147th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 68th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 163rd | 197 |
| Median household income | 101st | 194 |
| Per capita income | 132nd | 197 |
| Median home value | 88th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 180th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 63rd | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41st | 189 |
| Median age | 139th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 42nd | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 110th | 197 |
Lamar's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Lamar 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 Lamar?
18 of the 57 figures for Lamar 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 Lamar 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 Lamar.