Craighead County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Craighead County, Arkansas had an estimated 115,852 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 111,242, across 707 square miles. County output reached $7.26 bn in 2024, 2,788 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 53 7(a) approvals worth $41.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Craighead County
How many people live in Craighead County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024113,249
- Households44,437
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$59,548
- Median age34.5
- Median gross rent$958 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$210,400
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over72,548
- Population under 1828,553
- Share under 1825.2 percent
- Population 65 and over15,723
- Share 65 and over13.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6468,973
- Civilian labor force55,535
- Unemployment rate5.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.6 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties7th of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included554th of 3,222
Craighead County is the 7th 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 25.2 percent against 13.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Craighead County
Is Craighead County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024115,852
- Census 2020 base population111,242
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.14 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,607
- Births, 20241,499
- Deaths, 20241,127
- Natural change, 2024372
- Net domestic migration, 20241,186
- Net international migration, 202455
- Total net migration, 20241,241
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,612
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents666th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.14 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.
Craighead County
Where are people moving to Craighead County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,971
- People arriving, from those returns5,551
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,780
- Net household movement191
- Adjusted gross income arriving$139.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-5.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,024
- Average income of a leaving household$52,160
- Largest single originGreene County (282 households)
- Largest single destinationGreene County (325 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 282 | 490 | $12.6 m |
| Poinsett County | 255 | 503 | $10.1 m |
| Mississippi County | 223 | 457 | $10.4 m |
| Pulaski County | 105 | 175 | $4.1 m |
| Shelby County | 103 | 180 | $7.9 m |
| Crittenden County | 89 | 180 | $4.2 m |
| Lawrence County | 85 | 178 | $5.1 m |
| Randolph County | 80 | 140 | $3.4 m |
Households arriving report $5,136 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Greene 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.
Craighead County
What is the Craighead County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.26 bn
- County GDP, 2023$6.88 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.6 percent
- GDP change over five years38.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes5th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes568th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,098
Output grew 5.6 percent in the latest year and 38.4 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.
Craighead County
Employment by industry in Craighead County
- Covered employment, annual average55,053
- Establishments reporting3,006
- Average annual pay$51,690
- Average weekly wage$994
- Health care and social assistance, employment12,454
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,911
- Manufacturing, employment7,497
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$59,822
- Retail trade, employment6,534
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,378
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,715
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,460
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,746
- Construction, employment2,617
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 12,454 | 423 | $61,911 |
| Manufacturing | 7,497 | 89 | $59,822 |
| Retail trade | 6,534 | 435 | $36,378 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,715 | 269 | $22,460 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,746 | 155 | $31,509 |
| Construction | 2,617 | 286 | $63,086 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,106 | 173 | $70,045 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,918 | 108 | $56,008 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,454 jobs, 22.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Craighead County
How many businesses are in Craighead County?
- Establishments, all industries2,788
- Employment at those establishments48,791
- Annual payroll$2.49 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.6
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.
Craighead County
Building permits in Craighead County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024923
- Declared construction value permitted$120.5 m
- Single family units authorized610
- Multifamily units authorized313
- Multifamily share of units33.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$130,603
- Units authorized per 1,000 households20.8
Single-family homes are 66.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Craighead County
SBA loans in Craighead County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded53
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$41.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$774,125
- Median 7(a) approval$384,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,007,280
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)750
- Jobs per approval14.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals36
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter30
- Franchise loans16
- Franchise share of approvals30.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderFNBC Bank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 504 approval$606,000
- Median 504 approval$710,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval10.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$42.8 m
The average approval of $774,125 sits well above the median of $384,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.5 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.
Craighead County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Craighead County
Do SBA loans in Craighead County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure33
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 12 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.
Craighead County
SBA lending by place in Craighead County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Jonesboro, approvals45
- Brookland, approvals4
- Bono, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | 45 | $36,216,800 |
| Brookland | 4 | $3,410,100 |
| Bono | 4 | $1,401,700 |
Jonesboro accounts for 45 approvals against 4 in Brookland. 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.
Craighead County
How large is Craighead County?
- Land area707 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties29th of 75
- Width, east to west42 mi
- Height, north to south20.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land160
- Establishments per square mile3.94
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.
Craighead County
Flood risk in Craighead County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Craighead County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050427
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate90.9 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Craighead County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Craighead County (community 050427), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Craighead County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 90.9 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 Craighead 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 Craighead County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024113,249
- Households44,437
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$59,548
- Median age34.5
Common questions
Craighead County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Craighead County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 115,852 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 113,249, in 44,437 households, ranking 7th of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Craighead County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.14 percent since the 2020 census base of 111,242, to 115,852 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,499 births against 1,127 deaths, with net migration of 1,241. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Craighead County?
$59,548. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $210,400, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $958 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Craighead County?
2,788 establishments, employing 48,791 people with an annual payroll of $2.49 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 Craighead County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,454 jobs, 22.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 55,053 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,690, or $994 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Craighead County?
53 7(a) approvals totaling $41.0 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $384,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Craighead County?
923 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $120.5 m. Multifamily was 33.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Craighead County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Craighead County come from?
The largest single origin is Greene County, with 282 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,024 against $52,160 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Craighead 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 Craighead 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.
Craighead County
Cities and places in Craighead.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Craighead County. All 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | city | 80,137 | 45 | Wholly in this county |
| Brookland | city | 4,377 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Bono | city | 2,657 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake City | city | 2,531 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bay | city | 2,333 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Monette | city | 1,251 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Caraway | city | 1,087 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cash | town | 278 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Black Oak | town | 179 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Egypt | town | 57 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bowman | CDP | 30 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby