City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Sulphur Springs, AR

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

516
Residents
$34,500
Median income
$110,700
Median home
$1,347
Median rent (state)

Sulphur Springs - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sulphur Springs lands in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
50th
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: Sulphur Springs, AR

Sulphur Springs is a small town in Arkansas, home to 516 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $34,500 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.4%. Sulphur Springs's housing stock carries a median value of $110,700, and the median resident age is 30.6 years. 12.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 42.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arkansas scores 86.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,347 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $210 across Arkansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 88.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

516 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$34,500 /yr

Poverty 27.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Sulphur Springs compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 50% 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 Sulphur Springs 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 is Sulphur Springs's strongest outlier among Arkansas cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Sulphur Springs ranks #1 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sulphur Springs only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#419 of 495
15th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 524
92nd percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#239 of 482
50th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#68 of 524
87th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#296 of 524
43rd 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.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sulphur Springs's home value compares nationally

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

$110,700 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. Sulphur Springs $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 - Sulphur Springs, AR Sulphur Springs, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, AR median $34,500/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%
Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.4%

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

Population
516
Median Income
$34,500
Median Home Value
$110,700
Median Age
30.6
Poverty Rate
27.4%
Labor force participation
42.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
475 residents480 residents485 residents490 residents 202020212022202320242025 489 residents 483 residents ▼ -1.2%
Sulphur Springs's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 2
2022 0
2023 4
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.1%
Carpool
24.9%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.5%

Based on 181 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 Sulphur Springs sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,347/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Elaine
515 people
Hatfield
517 people
Pangburn
515 people
Belleville
514 people
De Valls Bluff
514 people
Bradford
513 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sulphur Springs's 516 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Highland Lake, AL
516 people
Mud Lake, ID
516 people
Holland, IN
516 people
Agency, IA
516 people
Ellerslie, MD
516 people
Lakeview, MS
516 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sulphur Springs's $34,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Severy, KS
$34,500 median income
Osage, OK
$34,500 median income
Erin, TN
$34,500 median income
Sophia, WV
$34,498 median income
Finley Point, MT
$34,519 median income
Catlettsburg, KY
$34,524 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.9% 38.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.2% White 59.9% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 38.6% 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 Sulphur Springs 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
Sulphur Springs (this city) 516 $34,500
Elaine 515 $39,226
Hatfield 517 $38,783
Pangburn 515 $31,842
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sulphur Springs, AR?

What is the population of Sulphur Springs, AR? +

516 people live in Sulphur Springs, AR according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sulphur Springs, AR? +

In Sulphur Springs, the typical household earns $34,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sulphur Springs? +

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

A typical home in Sulphur Springs is worth $110,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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