Poverty and living standards in Fort Smith, Arkansas: official figures
18.3% of residents of Fort Smith (16,126 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 166th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Arkansas: 16.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Fort Smith?
22.6% of children under 18 in Fort Smith lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (4,735 children), 196th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Arkansas: 21.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Fort Smith?
By age, the poverty rate in Fort Smith was 24.3% for children under 6 and 14.7% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Fort Smith live in deep poverty?
7,043 people in Fort Smith, 8.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 222nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Fort Smith are cost-burdened?
42.1% of renting households in Fort Smith spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (6,780 households), 51st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Arkansas: 44.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Fort Smith spend half their income on rent?
21.5% of renting households in Fort Smith spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 144th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Fort Smith are food insecure?
An estimated 23.5% of adults in Fort Smith experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 139th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 18.1% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Fort Smith compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Smith ranks 166 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 163 | Lafayette | 18.3% |
| 164 | Roanoke | 18.3% |
| 165 | Huntington Park | 18.3% |
| 166 | Fort Smith | 18.3% |
| 167 | Baytown | 18.2% |
| 168 | Racine | 18.2% |
| 169 | Richmond | 18.2% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Smith ranks 196 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 193 | High Point | 22.8% |
| 194 | Plainfield | 22.7% |
| 195 | St. Joseph | 22.7% |
| 196 | Fort Smith | 22.6% |
| 197 | Battle Creek | 22.6% |
| 198 | Stillwater | 22.6% |
| 199 | Waterloo | 22.5% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Fort Smith ranks 222 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 219 | Elyria | 8.0% |
| 220 | San Jacinto | 8.0% |
| 221 | Los Angeles | 8.0% |
| 222 | Fort Smith | 8.0% |
| 223 | Wilmington | 8.0% |
| 224 | Elizabeth | 8.0% |
| 225 | Springfield | 8.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Fort Smith ranks 773 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 770 | Rocky Mount | 42.2% |
| 771 | Idaho Falls | 42.2% |
| 772 | Eden Prairie | 42.2% |
| 773 | Fort Smith | 42.1% |
| 774 | O'Fallon | 42.0% |
| 775 | Decatur | 41.9% |
| 776 | Broken Arrow | 41.9% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Fort Smith ranks 140 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 137 | Portsmouth | 23.6% |
| 138 | Decatur | 23.6% |
| 139 | Las Cruces | 23.5% |
| 140 | Fort Smith | 23.5% |
| 141 | Berwyn | 23.5% |
| 142 | West Valley City | 23.4% |
| 143 | El Cajon | 23.4% |
More on Fort Smith: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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