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)

How Barling ranks

All →

#7Lowest obesity in AR #12Most new homes in AR #12Most conserved land in AR All AR rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code72923

Area code479

Living in Barling

Housing in Barling

$199K▲ 3.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Barling home is worth about $199,000, up 3.9% in a year, 13% below the Arkansas typical home.

Only 3 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Barling

Safety Grade C

Barling reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 66% report less. Within Arkansas, it does better than 61% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Barling 3.1

Arkansas 5.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Barling 12.9

Arkansas 16.7

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Barling

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Barling for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Fort Smith (59%), Van Buren (8%) and Little Rock (3%). Half commute less than 7 miles.

Fort Smith

59%

Van Buren

Little Rock

Fayetteville

2%Work in townlive and work in Barling 7 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 665Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Barling →

Health in Barling

Health Grade C

Healthier than 30% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 57% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Arkansas

1better than AR

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.9%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offAR 10.4% · better

Care nearby

Mercy Hospital Fort SmithFort Smith · 4.4 mi · ER

Eastside Family ClinicFort Smith · 3.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Barling · CMS · HRSAHealth in Barling →

Natural hazards in Barling

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌡️ Heat waves

1Does Barling flood?paid flood claims since 2019 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Barling MapBarling vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Barling →

Climate in Barling

Full climate →

Barling has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

53° / 31°Winter

73° / 49°Spring

92° / 69°Summer

74° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Barling get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 6, with the last in spring around Mar 25.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Barling →

Schools in Barling

All Barling schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Barling’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 58% of Arkansas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#28Best public schoolsof 113 in AR

DistrictFORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools1

Barling Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 316 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AR. Ratings are from neighbors.