City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

West Fork, AR

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

3,131
Residents
$70,486
Median income
$182,800
Median home
$1,347
Median rent (state)

West Fork - the verdict

West Fork ranks in the 50th percentile for household income and the 72nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

50th
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
50th
percentile, median rent
72nd
percentile, safety
📝 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: West Fork, AR

West Fork is a small town in Arkansas, home to 3,131 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in West Fork brings in $70,486 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.6%. Home values in West Fork run a median of $182,800, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. Educational attainment runs 25.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 69.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 12 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier. West Fork reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 804.4 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arkansas at 86.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,347 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arkansas's average monthly utility costs around $210 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

3,131 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$70,486 /yr

Poverty 0.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does West Fork compare to other US cities?

Here's how West Fork stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 50% pricier than other cities
Safety 72% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Arkansas and the picture shifts: West Fork ranks #27 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below West Fork's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arkansas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

50thIncome percentile
72ndSafety percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income · 72nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

West Fork's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

West Fork's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 60 Avg. percentile National median
West Fork's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How West Fork's home value compares nationally

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

$182,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. West Fork $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 - West Fork, AR West Fork, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Fork, 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 West Fork, AR median $70,486/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%
West Fork, 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 West Fork, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.3%

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

Population
3,131
Median Income
$70,486
Median Home Value
$182,800
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
0.6%
Labor force participation
69.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
804.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
42.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
762.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,320 residents2,340 residents2,360 residents2,380 residents2,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,338 residents 2,373 residents ▲ +1.5%
West Fork's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 4
2021 7
2022 13
2023 1
2024 12

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.8%
Other
1.0%

Based on 1,712 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 West Fork 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
92.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Corning
3,169 people
Huntsville
3,086 people
Green Forest
3,072 people
Prescott
3,063 people
Pottsville
3,201 people
Little Flock
3,040 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Fork's 3,131 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Shenandoah, VA
3,131 people
Mount Morris, MI
3,130 people
Chenango Bridge, NY
3,132 people
Gleed, WA
3,130 people
Eielson AFB, AK
3,133 people
Shelby, MT
3,129 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Fork's $70,486 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ackermanville, PA
$70,486 median income
Spangle, WA
$70,486 median income
Groves, TX
$70,485 median income
Needville, TX
$70,485 median income
Negaunee, MI
$70,483 median income
Lucasville, OH
$70,489 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Fork, 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 West Fork, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.8% 18.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.0% White 77.8% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 18.0% 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 West Fork 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
West Fork (this city) 3,131 $70,486
Corning 3,169 $44,197
Huntsville 3,086 $52,472
Green Forest 3,072 $63,813
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Fork, AR?

What is the population of West Fork, AR? +

3,131 people live in West Fork, AR according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Fork, AR? +

The median household income in West Fork is $70,486 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Fork? +

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

Is West Fork, AR safe? +

West Fork has a total crime rate of 804.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in West Fork, AR? +

The median home value in West Fork is $182,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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