Baxter County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Baxter County, Arkansas had an estimated 43,007 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,637, across 554 square miles. County output reached $2.33 bn in 2024, 1,125 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 48 7(a) approvals worth $12.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Baxter County
How many people live in Baxter County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,407
- Households19,348
- Average household size2.19
- Median household income$48,452
- Median age51.4
- Median gross rent$846 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$174,600
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over32,363
- Population under 187,509
- Share under 1817.7 percent
- Population 65 and over13,140
- Share 65 and over31.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,758
- Civilian labor force15,785
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over45.2 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties16th of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1159th of 3,222
Baxter County is the 16th largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 31.0 percent against 17.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Baxter County
Is Baxter County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202443,007
- Census 2020 base population41,637
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.29 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024226
- Births, 2024344
- Deaths, 2024712
- Natural change, 2024-368
- Net domestic migration, 2024593
- Net international migration, 2024-1
- Total net migration, 2024592
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20243,238
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents811th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.29 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Baxter County
Where are people moving to Baxter County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,412
- People arriving, from those returns2,683
- Tax returns filed by households leaving973
- Net household movement439
- Adjusted gross income arriving$91.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$45.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$64,528
- Average income of a leaving household$47,326
- Largest single originMarion County (173 households)
- Largest single destinationMarion County (144 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 173 | 327 | $6.1 m |
| Izard County | 50 | 101 | $2.2 m |
| Fulton County | 37 | 71 | $2.1 m |
| Ozark County | 26 | 42 | $432,000 |
| Boone County | 25 | 43 | $872,000 |
| Benton County | 24 | 47 | $2.7 m |
| Maricopa County | 23 | 36 | $1.5 m |
| Craighead County | 23 | 44 | $2.2 m |
Households arriving report $17,202 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Marion County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Baxter County
What is the Baxter County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.33 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.21 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years38.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes17th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1163rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,856
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 38.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Baxter County
Employment by industry in Baxter County
- Covered employment, annual average16,171
- Establishments reporting1,323
- Average annual pay$45,036
- Average weekly wage$866
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,155
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,367
- Retail trade, employment2,487
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,236
- Manufacturing, employment2,256
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$46,279
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,553
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,950
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,044
- Construction, employment625
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,155 | 218 | $57,367 |
| Retail trade | 2,487 | 202 | $34,236 |
| Manufacturing | 2,256 | 53 | $46,279 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,553 | 112 | $19,950 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,044 | 90 | $37,053 |
| Construction | 625 | 134 | $47,036 |
| Finance and insurance | 575 | 85 | $73,460 |
| Other services, except public administration | 337 | 84 | $36,193 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,155 jobs, 25.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Baxter County
How many businesses are in Baxter County?
- Establishments, all industries1,125
- Employment at those establishments14,397
- Annual payroll$678.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Baxter County
Building permits in Baxter County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202449
- Declared construction value permitted$10.0 m
- Single family units authorized39
- Multifamily units authorized10
- Multifamily share of units20.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$204,666
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.5
Single-family homes are 79.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Baxter County
SBA loans in Baxter County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded48
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$12.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$267,179
- Median 7(a) approval$108,650
- 10th percentile approval$16,400
- 90th percentile approval$906,460
- Largest single approval$1,622,800
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)285
- Jobs per approval5.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals32
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter37
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals10.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countOther Clothing Stores (4)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$181,000
- Average 504 approval$181,000
- Median 504 approval$181,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval1.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved5.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.0 m
The average approval of $267,179 sits well above the median of $108,650, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baxter County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Baxter County
Do SBA loans in Baxter County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded14
- Paid in full14
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure27
Only 14 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baxter County
SBA lending by place in Baxter County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Mountain Home, approvals41
- Gassville, approvals4
- Cotter, approvals2
- Norfork, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home | 41 | $11,051,600 |
| Gassville | 4 | $552,500 |
| Cotter | 2 | $270,500 |
| Norfork | 1 | $950,000 |
Mountain Home accounts for 41 approvals against 4 in Gassville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Baxter County
How large is Baxter County?
- Land area554 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties70th of 75
- Width, east to west24.7 mi
- Height, north to south36.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land77
- Establishments per square mile2.03
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Baxter County
Flood risk in Baxter County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Baxter County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 050010
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Baxter County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Baxter County (community 050010), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Baxter County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 50.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Baxter County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Baxter County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,407
- Households19,348
- Average household size2.19
- Median household income$48,452
- Median age51.4
Common questions
Baxter County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Baxter County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 43,007 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 42,407, in 19,348 households, ranking 16th of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Baxter County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.29 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,637, to 43,007 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 344 births against 712 deaths, with net migration of 592. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Baxter County?
$48,452. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $174,600, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $846 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Baxter County?
1,125 establishments, employing 14,397 people with an annual payroll of $678.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Baxter County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,155 jobs, 25.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,171 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,036, or $866 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Baxter County?
48 7(a) approvals totaling $12.8 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $108,650, plus 1 504 approvals worth $181,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Baxter County?
49 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $10.0 m. Multifamily was 20.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Baxter County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Baxter County come from?
The largest single origin is Marion County, with 173 households. Arriving households report an average income of $64,528 against $47,326 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Baxter County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Baxter County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Baxter County
Cities and places in Baxter.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Baxter County. 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home | city | 13,108 | 41 | Wholly in this county |
| Gassville | city | 1,850 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Midway | CDP | 1,279 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cotter | city | 1,063 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeview | city | 851 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Norfork | city | 690 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Salesville | city | 515 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Henderson | CDP | 415 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Briarcliff | city | 257 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Flat | town | 71 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gamaliel | CDP | 15 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Buffalo City | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby