Benton County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Benton County, Arkansas had an estimated 321,566 residents on July 1, 2024, up 13.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 284,334, across 847 square miles. County output reached $26.13 bn in 2024, 7,788 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 300 7(a) approvals worth $172.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Benton County
How many people live in Benton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024303,632
- Households111,919
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$93,506
- Median age35.9
- Median gross rent$1,277 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$323,500
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher37.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over201,229
- Population under 1877,250
- Share under 1825.4 percent
- Population 65 and over41,759
- Share 65 and over13.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64184,623
- Civilian labor force156,921
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.3 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties2nd of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included238th of 3,222
Benton County is the 2nd largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.4 percent against 13.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Benton County
Is Benton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024321,566
- Census 2020 base population284,334
- Population change since the 2020 census base13.09 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20249,318
- Births, 20244,001
- Deaths, 20242,233
- Natural change, 20241,768
- Net domestic migration, 20245,720
- Net international migration, 20241,814
- Total net migration, 20247,534
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202423,387
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents86th of 3,144
The county has grown 13.09 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Benton County
Where are people moving to Benton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving10,662
- People arriving, from those returns20,161
- Tax returns filed by households leaving8,214
- Net household movement2,448
- Adjusted gross income arriving$862.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$175.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,934
- Average income of a leaving household$83,651
- Largest single originWashington County (2,526 households)
- Largest single destinationWashington County (2,199 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 2,526 | 4,636 | $161.1 m |
| Pulaski County | 222 | 390 | $21.9 m |
| Sebastian County | 177 | 306 | $9.5 m |
| Los Angeles County | 144 | 288 | $14.1 m |
| Maricopa County | 137 | 279 | $12.0 m |
| Delaware County | 126 | 210 | $5.5 m |
| Dallas County | 125 | 188 | $13.3 m |
| McDonald County | 116 | 245 | $5.1 m |
Households arriving report $2,717 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Washington 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.
Benton County
What is the Benton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$26.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$23.52 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202411.1 percent
- GDP change over five years52.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes2nd of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes217th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$86,045
Output grew 11.1 percent in the latest year and 52.1 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.
Benton County
Employment by industry in Benton County
- Covered employment, annual average144,544
- Establishments reporting8,444
- Average annual pay$81,978
- Average weekly wage$1,576
- Retail trade, employment14,148
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,819
- Health care and social assistance, employment13,921
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,292
- Accommodation and food services, employment13,868
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,038
- Manufacturing, employment13,174
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,029
- Transportation and warehousing, employment11,240
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment9,692
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 14,148 | 796 | $37,819 |
| Health care and social assistance | 13,921 | 863 | $58,292 |
| Accommodation and food services | 13,868 | 662 | $25,038 |
| Manufacturing | 13,174 | 218 | $58,029 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11,240 | 221 | $70,014 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 9,692 | 1,234 | $88,014 |
| Construction | 8,432 | 917 | $65,347 |
| Wholesale trade | 7,176 | 782 | $118,791 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 14,148 jobs, 9.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Benton County
How many businesses are in Benton County?
- Establishments, all industries7,788
- Employment at those establishments140,001
- Annual payroll$11.03 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.6
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.
Benton County
Building permits in Benton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20244,453
- Declared construction value permitted$1.18 bn
- Single family units authorized3,651
- Multifamily units authorized802
- Multifamily share of units18.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$265,948
- Units authorized per 1,000 households39.8
Single-family homes are 82.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Benton County
SBA loans in Benton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded300
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$172.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$575,856
- Median 7(a) approval$258,450
- 10th percentile approval$40,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,511,940
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,332
- Jobs per approval14.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active66
- Distinct industries receiving approvals139
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms33
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter227
- Franchise loans77
- Franchise share of approvals25.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (26)
- Most active lenderArvest Bank (78)
- 504 approvals recorded50
- 504 gross approval dollars$51.0 m
- Average 504 approval$1,020,640
- Median 504 approval$620,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval15.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.4
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (28)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$223.8 m
The average approval of $575,856 sits well above the median of $258,450, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 11.0 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.
Benton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Benton County
Do SBA loans in Benton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded75
- Paid in full71
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full71
- Status: Exempt from disclosure177
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed18
Of the 75 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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.
Benton County
SBA lending by place in Benton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending19
- Rogers, approvals104
- Bentonville, approvals89
- Siloam Springs, approvals22
- Lowell, approvals17
- Bella Vista, approvals16
- Gentry, approvals11
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers | 104 | $59,602,600 |
| Bentonville | 89 | $54,945,500 |
| Siloam Springs | 22 | $19,425,000 |
| Lowell | 17 | $8,822,800 |
| Bella Vista | 16 | $6,168,100 |
| Gentry | 11 | $8,613,300 |
| Centerton | 11 | $3,913,300 |
| Pea Ridge | 6 | $1,516,700 |
| 11 other borrower cities | 24 | $9,749,400 |
Rogers accounts for 104 approvals against 89 in Bentonville. 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.
Benton County
How large is Benton County?
- Land area847 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties12th of 75
- Width, east to west44.7 mi
- Height, north to south27.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land358
- Establishments per square mile9.19
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.
Benton County
Flood risk in Benton County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Benton County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050419
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book20
- Of those, participating in the NFIP19
- NFIP participation rate95.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in Benton 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 Benton County (community 050419), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Benton 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 95.0 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 Benton 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 Benton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024303,632
- Households111,919
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$93,506
- Median age35.9
Common questions
Benton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Benton County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 321,566 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 303,632, in 111,919 households, ranking 2nd of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Benton County's population growing?
The population has grown 13.09 percent since the 2020 census base of 284,334, to 321,566 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 4,001 births against 2,233 deaths, with net migration of 7,534. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Benton County?
$93,506. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $323,500, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,277 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Benton County?
7,788 establishments, employing 140,001 people with an annual payroll of $11.03 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Benton County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 14,148 jobs, 9.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 144,544 jobs at an average annual pay of $81,978, or $1,576 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Benton County?
300 7(a) approvals totaling $172.8 m since FY2020, across 66 lenders, with a median approval of $258,450, plus 50 504 approvals worth $51.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Benton County get paid back?
Of the 75 loans that have reached a final outcome, 71 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Benton County?
4,453 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.18 bn. Multifamily was 18.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Benton 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 Benton County come from?
The largest single origin is Washington County, with 2,526 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,934 against $83,651 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Benton 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 Benton 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.
Benton County
Cities and places in Benton.
24 Census places lie wholly or partly in Benton County. All 24 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springdale | city | 88,160 | 4 | 32.8 percent here, 67.2 percent Washington County |
| Rogers | city | 72,981 | 104 | Wholly in this county |
| Bentonville | city | 58,249 | 89 | Wholly in this county |
| Bella Vista | city | 31,697 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Centerton | city | 21,920 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Siloam Springs | city | 18,699 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Lowell | city | 10,849 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Pea Ridge | city | 8,108 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Cave Springs | city | 6,008 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Gentry | city | 4,240 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Gravette | city | 3,714 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Elm Springs | city | 3,069 | None recorded | 17.3 percent here, 82.7 percent Washington County |
| Little Flock | city | 3,056 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prairie Creek | CDP | 2,493 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Highfill | town | 2,191 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Decatur | city | 1,567 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Avoca | town | 799 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Garfield | town | 508 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Sulphur Springs | city | 499 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Cherokee City | CDP | 369 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lost Bridge Village | CDP | 303 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gateway | town | 292 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maysville | CDP | 110 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Springtown | town | 109 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 300 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Benton County, the largest being Hiwasse (4), Acova (1), Conway (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.