Highway 22 at Highway 549, 2016
Barling’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 770 in 1960, 4,782 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1887 on.
- 1890Barling is settled
BarlingAR
A town of 5,452, settled in 1890.
Population
5,452
2025 Census estimate · +14.1% since 2020
Typical home
$198K
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$54K
median
Median age
42.5
years
Jobs based here
665
A commuter town
TownGrade
C
#56 of 123 in AR
Is Barling a good place to live?
Barling gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $198K, 3.4 years of the Fort Smith metro’s $58K median household income. It grades C overall, 56th of 123 graded towns in Arkansas. Only 19 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score higher on hazard risk. The biggest park or preserve is Spring Hill Park, at 225 acres. Only 14 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score higher on the outdoors.
WeakestCHealth
Get outside
4 miles of trails in Barling
4.5% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Barling grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Barling is from typical.
HealthMercy Hospital Fort Smith 4.4 miles awayCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.3 of 20; 0.5% of households have no car; 0.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SafetyCOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →Jobs & income$54K median household incomeB−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 4% conserved landBOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life0.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.5; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Barling: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Barling, and how to reach them.
PowerSWEPCO12.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBarling WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Barling’s trash rules yet
SchoolsFort Smith Public SchoolsLavaca Public Schools2 districts serve Barling; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSebastian County ClerkSebastian County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2015
ZIP code7292372923 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Barling.
Barling has hotter summers than almost anywhere else in Arkansas and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it has lost a quarter or more of its jobs in ten years.
OutdoorsB
Barling has set aside 4.5% of its land for conservation
3.6 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
#41for trails in AR
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 4.5% | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
4.5%
conserved · 304 of 6,806 acres
3.6 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Celebration Garden and Wellness Park | 0.7 mi | 10 |
| 2. Barling City Park | 0.3 mi | 59 |
| 3. Spring Hill Park | — | 225 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
Barling’s public schools outperform 52% of Arkansas districts
Its public schools are run by the Fort Smith School District. Its one school is below.
52%of AR districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barling Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 316 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
More than half of Barling’s working residents commute to Fort Smith
Jobs based here fell from 1,188 in 2013 to 665.
Most working residents leave Barling for work: only 2% work in town. Barling’s average trip to work is 18 minutes, against 21 minutes in Arkansas’ towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Jobs based in Barling fell to 665 in 2023, 523 fewer than in 2013.
2%work in town
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2% | 22% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $54,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Barling2%
Fort Smith59%
Van Buren8%
Little Rock3%
Fayetteville2%
7 mi
median commute distance
665
jobs based in Barling
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 31% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Residents of Barling are less healthy than 71% of U.S. towns
Against the 7,231 U.S. towns with household incomes like Barling’s, it is healthier than 56%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income. Within Arkansas it is healthier than 64% of the 123 graded towns: much of Arkansas scores lower on these measures.
Barling beats the Arkansas average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 36% of Barling adults feel lonely, where Arkansas’ towns sit at 35% and U.S. towns at 33%. 14% of Barling adults binge drink.
29%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 35% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 39% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Arkansas
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Barling | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8.9% | 10.4% |
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
4.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
64th
percentile among AR towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC
Barling sees more crime per resident than 67% of U.S. towns
Barling’s violent crime rate is 3.1 per 1,000 residents. Within Arkansas, it does better than 68% of towns.
33%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.1 per 1,000 residents | 3.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.9 per 1,000 residents | 13.8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Barling3.1
Arkansas5.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Barling12.9
Arkansas16.7
U.S.15.5
33rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
68th
percentile among AR towns
17
violent crimes reported in 2025
70
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Barling stands out in Arkansas and nationally: a typical July afternoon there is hotter
July afternoons average 93.4°, the highest of 626 Arkansas places with climate records; January nights average 29°.
The July high in Barling is 93°F. Barling has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. About 3 inches of snow falls in a winter.
3″snow a winter
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 93°F | 92°F | 85°F |
| January low | 29°F | 30°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–53°
Spring49–73°
Summer69–92°
Fall50–74°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 25
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer children than Arkansas overall
Children under 18 are 18% of residents (23% statewide). Barling has grown 14% since 2020, to 5,452 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 20% of residents are 65 or older in Barling.
42.5median age · AR 38.5
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 18% | 25% | 22% |
| Median age | 42.5 years | 36.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 16% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 21% | 20% | 29% |
BarlingArkansasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school41%
Some college19%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate5%
Women and men · all residents
57% women, 43% men
About 76 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.4 points). Across Arkansas, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Barling | AR | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 10.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.9% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.2% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.2% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.7% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.5% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.7% | 11.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 41.4% | 34.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.3% | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6.5% | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.7% | 16.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.4% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade B
Barling earns a B for cost of living
The typical Barling home is worth about $198,000, up 3.8% in a year, 12% below the Arkansas typical home.
$198KZillow home value
| Barling | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 72% | 60% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,128 a month | $875 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Barling$198K
Arkansas$224K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Moderate risk in Barling, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Barling since 2019.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2019
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 17 attractions →Spiro Mounds and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Barling. Close and well known come first.
16 mi Ancient siteSpiro Mounds
38 mi MountainMount Magazine
12 mi National forestOzark–St. Francis National Forest
9 mi National Historic SiteFort Smith National Historic Site107K visitors a year
31 mi State parkDevil's Den State Park
9 mi MuseumFort Smith Trolley MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Spiro Mounds: Herb Roe Original uploader was Heironymous Rowe at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Magazine: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ozark–St. Francis National Forest: Paul A. Mistretta, USDA Forest Service, CC BY 3.0 us · Fort Smith National Historic Site: Photolitherland (talk) Chris Litherland, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Devil's Den State Park: jaystout, CC BY 2.0 · Fort Smith Trolley Museum: Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Barling
20pages on Barling
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 52% of AR districts · 1 schoolSafetyC3.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than AR on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$198K typical home · up 3.8% in a yearWork & commuteB−$54K median household income · 665 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Barling
Arkansas Colleges of Health EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Fort Smith2.4 miUniversity of Arkansas-Fort SmithUniversity or college · Public · Fort Smith6.4 mi$7,334 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Barling residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Barling for work
Where Barling’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
665jobs based in Barling
2%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Barling
City in Arkansas, United States
Barling is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 Census the population was 4,782, ranking it eighth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. Barling was incorporated in 1956.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1956
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 486 ft
- ZIP code
- 72923
- Area code
- 479
Barling’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Barling.
Fort SmithCentral CityBarling
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AR rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barling | #56 | C | B | C | B− | C |
| Fort Smith | #78 | D | B | D− | B+ | D |
| Central City | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Central City isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Barling with a neighbor →
Questions about Barling
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Barling, AR a good place to live?
Barling grades C overall, better than 29% of U.S. towns and #56 of 123 in Arkansas. It grades C for health, C for safety and B− for schools.
Is Barling, AR safe?
Within Arkansas, it does better than 68% of towns.
Is Barling, AR expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.