City · Arkansas
McGehee, Arkansas
McGehee, city, in Desha County, Arkansas. McGehee had 3,389 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 12.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,849 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,666 (±18). GEOID 0542770.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,389
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,849 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,666 ±18
Median household income
$36,875
±$7,853 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$98,800
±$10,803 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$784
±$75 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is McGehee and what county is it in?
McGehee is a city in Desha County, Arkansas. It covers 6.7 square miles of land, 574 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 McGehee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,389 people lived in McGehee on July 1, 2025, down 12.5% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020 Census counted 3,849 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,666 (±18).
| Measure | McGehee | Desha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,666 ±18 | 10,786 | −130 |
| Households | 1,400 ±148 | 4,610 | −241 |
| Average household size | 2.59 ±0.27 | 2.31 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,704 ±167 | 5,799 | −253 |
McGehee's population since 2000
From 4,570 in 2000 to 3,389 in 2025: down 25.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McGehee 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 McGehee?
The median resident of McGehee is 36.4 years old; 29.5% are under 18 and 11.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 48.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 41.4%.
| Measure | McGehee | Desha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 ±2.8 | 41.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.5% ±4.1 pts | 24.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.9% ±3.2 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 47.3% ±4.5 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.3% ±5.4 pts | 7.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 41.4% ±5.3 pts | 42.5% | −8.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 48.2% ±6.4 pts | 49.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±1.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±2.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.5% ±4.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±2.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 20.4% ±4.3 pts | 22.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1% ±4.9 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.6% ±6.1 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.6% ±5.3 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.6% ±3.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3% ±4.5 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 McGehee earn?
Half of McGehee's 1,400 households earn less than $36,875 a year (±$7,853), against $37,662 in Desha County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $34,381 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 34.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McGehee | Desha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,875 ±$7,853 | $37,662 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $56,313 ±$6,494 | $53,518 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,072 ±$3,049 | $23,568 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 34.0% ±9.5 pts | 28.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 48.9% ±17.0 pts | 39.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.3% ±6.5 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.6% ±4.1 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.7% ±6.1 pts | 78.0% | – |
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 McGehee?
Owners occupy 46.9% of McGehee's occupied homes and renters 53.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,800 by its owner (±$10,803). The median renter pays $784 a month including utilities, and 42.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McGehee | Desha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $98,800 ±$10,803 | $90,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $784 ±$75 | $718 | +$211 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.3% ±14.2 pts | 40.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $981 ±$148 | $999 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.9% ±7.6 pts | 56.8% | −16.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.1% ±7.6 pts | 43.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,704 ±167 | 5,799 | −253 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.5% ±5.2 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.4% ±6.8 pts | 69.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% ±4.9 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±3.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.4% ±3.5 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.8% ±3.8 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.4% ±6.9 pts | 14.6% | – |
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 McGehee building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in McGehee in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.6 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 McGehee work and get to work?
83.5% of McGehee's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 16.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.9%.
| Measure | McGehee | Desha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 46.6% ±5.8 pts | 47.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% ±3.4 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.5% ±7.1 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±6.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.4% ±2.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.8 min ±2.7 | 20.8 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 McGehee?
1 census tract lies mostly in McGehee, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9504Desha County | 2,664 | $36,712 |
| Tract 9505Desha County | 1,812 | $43,750 |
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 McGehee) · Census block assignment files
How does McGehee compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McGehee is the 5,970th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 93rd-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
McGehee ranks 172nd 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 | 93rd | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 180th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 122nd | 197 |
| Median household income | 172nd | 194 |
| Per capita income | 169th | 197 |
| Median home value | 157th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 107th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 7th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 139th | 189 |
| Median age | 119th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 180th | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 167th | 197 |
McGehee's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare McGehee 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 McGehee?
14 of the 57 figures for McGehee 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 McGehee 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 McGehee.