City · Arkansas
Van Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren, city, in Crawford County, Arkansas. Van Buren had 24,556 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 23,218 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,763 (±32). GEOID 0571480.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,556
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,218 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,763 ±32
Median household income
$61,149
±$3,178 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$181,500
±$15,424 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$847
±$28 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Van Buren and what county is it in?
Van Buren is a city in Crawford County, Arkansas. It covers 15.5 square miles of land, 1,500 residents per square mile in 2020.
Van Buren is in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Van Buren, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 24,556 people lived in Van Buren on July 1, 2025, up 5.8% since 2020, faster than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 23,218 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,763 (±32).
| Measure | Van Buren | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,763 ±32 | 61,139 | +350 |
| Households | 9,149 ±332 | 23,357 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.09 | 2.59 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,862 ±308 | 25,621 | no clear change |
Van Buren's population since 2000
From 18,986 in 2000 to 24,556 in 2025: up 29.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Van Buren 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 Van Buren?
The median resident of Van Buren is 36.5 years old; 24.3% are under 18 and 17.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 69.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 15.7%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Van Buren | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±1.6 | 39.2 | +2.8 |
| Under 18 years | 24.3% ±1.6 pts | 23.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.4% ±1.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±1.6 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.7% ±1.5 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 69.3% ±2.5 pts | 79.3% | −5.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±0.8 pts | 1.1% | −1.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.2% ±1.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±1.5 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.1% ±2.2 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.5% ±1.6 pts | 9.7% | – |
| With a disability | 19.7% ±2.5 pts | 19.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.2% ±2.9 pts | 9.4% | +3.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5% ±1.9 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.9% ±4.0 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.6% ±1.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3% ±3.2 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
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 Van Buren earn?
Half of Van Buren's 9,149 households earn less than $61,149 a year (±$3,178), against $64,132 in Crawford County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $56,260 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,889 after inflation. 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Van Buren | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,149 ±$3,178 | $64,132 | +$4,889 |
| Mean household income | $74,505 ±$5,649 | $80,026 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,398 ±$2,355 | $30,712 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.3% ±3.2 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.4% ±6.1 pts | 21.0% | −14.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.7% ±3.2 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% ±1.0 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.8% ±2.5 pts | 88.5% | – |
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 Van Buren?
Owners occupy 65.6% of Van Buren's occupied homes and renters 34.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,500 by its owner (±$15,424). The median renter pays $847 a month including utilities, and 32.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Van Buren | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $181,500 ±$15,424 | $182,800 | +$38,493 |
| Median gross rent | $847 ±$28 | $851 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.3% ±6.5 pts | 33.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,151 ±$54 | $1,262 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.6% ±4.7 pts | 75.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.4% ±4.7 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Housing units | 9,862 ±308 | 25,621 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±4.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.3% ±3.9 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±1.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.5% ±1.7 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.6% ±1.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.2% | – |
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 Van Buren building?
Builders took permits for 19 new housing units in Van Buren in 2025 (19 in single-family houses), 0.8 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 Van Buren work and get to work?
82.2% of Van Buren's workers drive alone and 3.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Van Buren | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.1% ±2.6 pts | 55.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±2.2 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.2% ±3.8 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±3.5 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.3% ±1.4 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min ±1.5 | 24.4 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 Van Buren?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Van Buren, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $45,265 (Tract 205.02) to $68,505 (Tract 203.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 205.02Crawford County | 4,527 | $45,265 |
| Tract 203.02Crawford County | 4,571 | $67,222 |
| Tract 203.01Crawford County | 3,901 | $68,505 |
| Tract 205.01Crawford County | 4,294 | $62,566 |
| Tract 202.08Crawford County | 3,970 | $58,717 |
| Tract 202.04Crawford County | 5,921 | $74,618 |
| Tract 202.07Crawford County | 3,941 | $65,719 |
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 Van Buren) · Census block assignment files
How does Van Buren compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Van Buren is the 1,644th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 21st-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Van Buren ranks 58th 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 | 21st | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 48th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 11th | 197 |
| Median household income | 58th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 76th | 197 |
| Median home value | 56th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 86th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 117th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75th | 189 |
| Median age | 116th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 87th | 197 |
| Work from home | 76th | 76 |
| Travel time to work | 134th | 197 |
Van Buren's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Van Buren 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 Van Buren?
6 of the 57 figures for Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren.