Garland County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Garland County, Arkansas had an estimated 99,902 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,173, across 678 square miles. County output reached $4.74 bn in 2024, 2,953 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 107 7(a) approvals worth $33.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Garland County
How many people live in Garland County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024100,035
- Households43,667
- Average household size2.29
- Median household income$57,181
- Median age45.5
- Median gross rent$966 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$194,300
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher25.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over73,124
- Population under 1819,821
- Share under 1819.8 percent
- Population 65 and over24,702
- Share 65 and over24.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6455,512
- Civilian labor force45,171
- Unemployment rate5.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.3 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties8th of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included620th of 3,222
Garland County is the 8th largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.7 percent against 19.8 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.
Garland County
Is Garland County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202499,902
- Census 2020 base population100,173
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.27 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024143
- Births, 2024960
- Deaths, 20241,506
- Natural change, 2024-546
- Net domestic migration, 2024568
- Net international migration, 2024114
- Total net migration, 2024682
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,992
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1949th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.27 percent of its population 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.
Garland County
Where are people moving to Garland County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,660
- People arriving, from those returns4,782
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,429
- Net household movement231
- Adjusted gross income arriving$178.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$38.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,021
- Average income of a leaving household$57,753
- Largest single originSaline County (219 households)
- Largest single destinationSaline County (331 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | 219 | 435 | $15.1 m |
| Pulaski County | 208 | 330 | $14.0 m |
| Hot Spring County | 164 | 327 | $6.0 m |
| Clark County | 58 | 91 | $2.0 m |
| Montgomery County | 50 | 114 | $1.8 m |
| Pike County | 49 | 94 | $1.9 m |
| Washington County | 46 | 74 | $4.0 m |
| Faulkner County | 44 | 67 | $2.0 m |
Households arriving report $9,268 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 Saline 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.
Garland County
What is the Garland County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.74 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.56 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years29.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes7th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes738th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,364
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 29.3 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.
Garland County
Employment by industry in Garland County
- Covered employment, annual average38,005
- Establishments reporting3,256
- Average annual pay$46,226
- Average weekly wage$889
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,892
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,737
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,153
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,976
- Retail trade, employment6,026
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,984
- Manufacturing, employment2,151
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$55,461
- Construction, employment2,008
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,734
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,892 | 477 | $57,737 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,153 | 332 | $23,976 |
| Retail trade | 6,026 | 466 | $35,984 |
| Manufacturing | 2,151 | 94 | $55,461 |
| Construction | 2,008 | 377 | $51,159 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,734 | 184 | $37,399 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,714 | 78 | $32,933 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,055 | 225 | $34,768 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,892 jobs, 20.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Garland County
How many businesses are in Garland County?
- Establishments, all industries2,953
- Employment at those establishments35,325
- Annual payroll$1.50 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.5
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.
Garland County
Building permits in Garland County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024111
- Declared construction value permitted$35.4 m
- Single family units authorized87
- Multifamily units authorized24
- Multifamily share of units21.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$319,305
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.5
Single-family homes are 78.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Garland County
SBA loans in Garland County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded107
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$33.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$308,510
- Median 7(a) approval$100,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$683,840
- Largest single approval$4,251,600
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,024
- Jobs per approval9.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active31
- Distinct industries receiving approvals65
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter90
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals8.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (7)
- Most active lenderArvest Bank (25)
- 504 approvals recorded19
- 504 gross approval dollars$14.2 m
- Average 504 approval$746,947
- Median 504 approval$549,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval14.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.8
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (10)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$47.2 m
The average approval of $308,510 sits well above the median of $100,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.4 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.
Garland County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Garland County
Do SBA loans in Garland County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded22
- Paid in full20
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Cancelled13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure70
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 22 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.
Garland County
SBA lending by place in Garland County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Hot Springs, approvals52
- Hot Springs National Park, approvals41
- Pearcy, approvals6
- Royal, approvals2
- Jessieville, approvals2
- Hot Spirngs, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | 52 | $13,181,100 |
| Hot Springs National Park | 41 | $14,113,200 |
| Pearcy | 6 | $1,561,200 |
| Royal | 2 | $3,457,200 |
| Jessieville | 2 | $164,900 |
| Hot Spirngs | 2 | $153,000 |
| Hot Springs National P | 1 | $330,000 |
| Garland County | 1 | $50,000 |
Hot Springs accounts for 52 approvals against 41 in Hot Springs National Park. 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.
Garland County
How large is Garland County?
- Land area678 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties31st of 75
- Width, east to west34.9 mi
- Height, north to south26.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land148
- Establishments per square mile4.36
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.
Garland County
Flood risk in Garland County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Garland County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050433
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate60.0 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 Garland 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 Garland County (community 050433), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Garland 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 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 60.0 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 Garland 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 Garland County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024100,035
- Households43,667
- Average household size2.29
- Median household income$57,181
- Median age45.5
Common questions
Garland County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Garland County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 99,902 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 100,035, in 43,667 households, ranking 8th of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Garland County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.27 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,173, to 99,902 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 960 births against 1,506 deaths, with net migration of 682. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Garland County?
$57,181. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,300, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $966 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Garland County?
2,953 establishments, employing 35,325 people with an annual payroll of $1.50 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 Garland County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,892 jobs, 20.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 38,005 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,226, or $889 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Garland County?
107 7(a) approvals totaling $33.0 m since FY2020, across 31 lenders, with a median approval of $100,000, plus 19 504 approvals worth $14.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Garland County?
111 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $35.4 m. Multifamily was 21.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Garland 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 Garland County come from?
The largest single origin is Saline County, with 219 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,021 against $57,753 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Garland 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 Garland 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.
Garland County
Cities and places in Garland.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Garland County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | city | 37,920 | 52 | Wholly in this county |
| Hot Springs Village | CDP | 16,327 | None recorded | 56.0 percent here, 44.0 percent Saline County |
| Piney | CDP | 4,458 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rockwell | CDP | 3,986 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Hamilton | CDP | 2,127 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mountain Pine | city | 555 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fountain Lake | town | 548 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pearcy | CDP | 363 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Lonsdale | town | 211 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crystal Springs | CDP | 85 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 49 of the county's 107 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Garland County, the largest being Hot Springs National Park (41), Royal (2), Jessieville (2). 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.
Nearby