City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Osceola, AR

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

6,807
Residents
$40,783
Median income
$108,700
Median home
$880
Median rent (state)

Osceola - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Osceola lands in the 8th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Osceola, AR

Osceola is a small town in Arkansas, home to 6,807 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Osceola brings in $40,783 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.7%. Typical homes in Osceola are valued around $108,700, and the median resident age is 33.1 years. Educational attainment runs 8.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Osceola (Construction Slowdown), down 80% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $880 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $210 across Arkansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 89.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

6,807 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$40,783 /yr

Poverty 27.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Osceola compare to other US cities?

Where Osceola sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Osceola 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 Osceola near the bottom of Arkansas's cities

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

Median Household Income
#338 of 495
32nd percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#277 of 524
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#251 of 482
48th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#64 of 524
87th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#376 of 524
28th 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.

8thIncome percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Osceola's home value compares nationally

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

$108,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Osceola $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 - Osceola, AR Osceola, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Osceola, 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 Osceola, AR median $40,783/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%
Osceola, 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 Osceola, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.1%

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

Population
6,807
Median Income
$40,783
Median Home Value
$108,700
Median Age
33.1
Poverty Rate
27.7%
Labor force participation
52.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.9%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,200 residents6,400 residents6,600 residents6,800 residents7,000 residents7,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,954 residents 6,450 residents ▼ -7.2%
Osceola's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 50
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 10

Permit volume decreased 80% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.0%
Carpool
19.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.0%
Other
1.8%

Based on 2,694 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 Osceola 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
89.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Morrilton
7,022 people
Heber Springs
7,101 people
Ward
6,367 people
East End
6,344 people
Pea Ridge
7,348 people
Trumann
7,432 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Osceola's 6,807 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pepper Pike, OH
6,807 people
Loomis, CA
6,809 people
South Hill, NY
6,805 people
Murphysboro, IL
6,804 people
Lake Alfred, FL
6,803 people
Litchfield, IL
6,814 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Osceola's $40,783 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brookport, IL
$40,781 median income
Hamilton, NC
$40,781 median income
Campbell, FL
$40,780 median income
San Carlos, TX
$40,786 median income
Northwoods, MO
$40,787 median income
Moulton, AL
$40,792 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Osceola, 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 Osceola, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 34.1% 56.7% 8.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.5% White 34.1% Black or African American 56.7% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 8.6% 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 Osceola 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
Osceola (this city) 6,807 $40,783
Morrilton 7,022 $38,056
Heber Springs 7,101 $49,917
Ward 6,367 $78,841
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Osceola, AR?

What is the population of Osceola, AR? +

The population of Osceola, AR stands at 6,807 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Osceola, the typical household earns $40,783 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Osceola? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Osceola; 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.

What is the median home value in Osceola, AR? +

Osceola's median home value sits at $108,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.