Poverty and living standards in Little Rock, Arkansas: official figures
17.5% of residents of Little Rock (34,798 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 186th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Arkansas: 16.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Little Rock?
26.9% of children under 18 in Little Rock lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (13,146 children), 111th 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 Little Rock?
By age, the poverty rate in Little Rock was 25.6% for children under 6 and 9.2% 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 Little Rock live in deep poverty?
19,162 people in Little Rock, 9.6% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 128th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Little Rock are cost-burdened?
48.9% of renting households in Little Rock spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (18,311 households), 240th 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 Little Rock spend half their income on rent?
24.2% of renting households in Little Rock spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 293rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Little Rock are food insecure?
An estimated 21.8% of adults in Little Rock experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 179th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 18.2% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Little Rock compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Little Rock ranks 186 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 183 | Battle Creek | 17.6% |
| 184 | Lawrence | 17.6% |
| 185 | Pueblo | 17.5% |
| 186 | Little Rock | 17.5% |
| 187 | Oshkosh | 17.5% |
| 188 | El Monte | 17.4% |
| 189 | Killeen | 17.4% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Little Rock ranks 111 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Sarasota | 27.2% |
| 109 | Evansville | 27.2% |
| 110 | McAllen | 27.1% |
| 111 | Little Rock | 26.9% |
| 112 | Baytown | 26.8% |
| 113 | El Monte | 26.6% |
| 114 | Fall River | 26.6% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Little Rock ranks 128 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Flagstaff | 9.7% |
| 126 | Houston | 9.7% |
| 127 | Lake Charles | 9.7% |
| 128 | Little Rock | 9.6% |
| 129 | Richmond | 9.6% |
| 130 | Edinburg | 9.6% |
| 131 | Norman | 9.6% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Little Rock ranks 584 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 581 | Tyler | 49.0% |
| 582 | Warner Robins | 49.0% |
| 583 | San Angelo | 48.9% |
| 584 | Little Rock | 48.9% |
| 585 | Billings | 48.9% |
| 586 | Bowie | 48.9% |
| 587 | Holly Springs | 48.9% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Little Rock ranks 179 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 176 | Downey | 21.9% |
| 177 | Carson | 21.9% |
| 178 | Jonesboro | 21.9% |
| 179 | Little Rock | 21.8% |
| 180 | Warren | 21.8% |
| 181 | Peoria | 21.8% |
| 182 | Middletown | 21.8% |
More on Little Rock: 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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