Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 243, founded in 1880.
Chidester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 211 in 1910, a peak of 508 in 1940, 253 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1901 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chidester, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Chidester.
Chidester’s income of the median household stands at $24,000, where Arkansas’ towns sit at $55,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. For working residents here, the share who work locally is 1%. Half of commuters travel less than 22 miles. In Chidester, the average commute is 30 minutes.
| Chidester | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 48% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $24,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1% | 22% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Federal aid has come to Chidester households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts nearly two fifths of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 18% to tornadoes.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The share of adults in Chidester who have obesity is 43%, above both Arkansas’ towns (39%) and U.S. towns (35%); what’s more, among adults here, 20% have diabetes. Only one of the 124 Arkansas towns we compare has a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Chidester. Two figures for adults here: 54% have high blood pressure, 11% binge drink.
| Chidester | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 13% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 54% | 41% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 85% | 78% | 79% |
| What stands out | Chidester | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11% | 14.6% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 20.1% | 24.6% |
| More adults with diabetes | 19.8% | 13.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Chidester’s rent at the middle of the market comes in at $439 a month. In Chidester, 67% of households own their home.
| Chidester | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $439 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 60% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
None within 15 miles of Chidester; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Chidester residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
Where Chidester’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Arkansas, United States
Chidester ( CHIH-di-stir) is a city in northwest Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 253 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area. It was founded in 1880 and incorporated on February 14, 1906.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Chidester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.