Sebastian County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Sebastian County, Arkansas had an estimated 130,035 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 127,797, across 532 square miles. County output reached $9.26 bn in 2024, 3,398 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 88 7(a) approvals worth $60.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Sebastian County
How many people live in Sebastian County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024128,900
- Households52,181
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$57,790
- Median age38.0
- Median gross rent$886 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$176,200
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over86,709
- Population under 1830,628
- Share under 1823.8 percent
- Population 65 and over21,959
- Share 65 and over17.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6476,313
- Civilian labor force61,388
- Unemployment rate5.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.5 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties4th of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included511th of 3,222
Sebastian County is the 4th largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.8 percent against 17.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Sebastian County
Is Sebastian County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024130,035
- Census 2020 base population127,797
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.75 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024832
- Births, 20241,582
- Deaths, 20241,468
- Natural change, 2024114
- Net domestic migration, 2024535
- Net international migration, 2024182
- Total net migration, 2024717
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,534
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1261st of 3,144
The county has grown 1.75 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.
Sebastian County
Where are people moving to Sebastian County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,502
- People arriving, from those returns6,552
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,344
- Net household movement158
- Adjusted gross income arriving$165.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-10.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,340
- Average income of a leaving household$52,682
- Largest single originCrawford County (647 households)
- Largest single destinationCrawford County (647 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | 647 | 1,221 | $23.3 m |
| Le Flore County | 232 | 432 | $7.8 m |
| Sequoyah County | 176 | 336 | $7.1 m |
| Washington County | 166 | 262 | $6.9 m |
| Benton County | 104 | 197 | $9.6 m |
| Logan County | 96 | 202 | $3.2 m |
| Scott County | 87 | 186 | $3.8 m |
| Franklin County | 77 | 130 | $2.3 m |
Households arriving report $5,342 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Crawford 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.
Sebastian County
What is the Sebastian County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$9.26 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years31.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes4th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes470th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$71,802
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 31.4 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.
Sebastian County
Employment by industry in Sebastian County
- Covered employment, annual average67,665
- Establishments reporting3,751
- Average annual pay$55,173
- Average weekly wage$1,061
- Manufacturing, employment12,904
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,573
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,740
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,377
- Retail trade, employment7,700
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,540
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,050
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,306
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment4,295
- Wholesale trade, employment2,915
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 12,904 | 174 | $61,573 |
| Health care and social assistance | 11,740 | 591 | $63,377 |
| Retail trade | 7,700 | 526 | $34,540 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,050 | 338 | $22,306 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 4,295 | 204 | $36,672 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,915 | 220 | $67,049 |
| Construction | 2,789 | 285 | $55,406 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,332 | 106 | $72,490 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 12,904 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Sebastian County
How many businesses are in Sebastian County?
- Establishments, all industries3,398
- Employment at those establishments60,727
- Annual payroll$3.20 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.4
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.
Sebastian County
Building permits in Sebastian County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024385
- Declared construction value permitted$93.1 m
- Single family units authorized234
- Multifamily units authorized151
- Multifamily share of units39.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$241,791
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.4
Single-family homes are 60.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Sebastian County
SBA loans in Sebastian County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded88
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$60.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$691,427
- Median 7(a) approval$194,200
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,400,000
- Largest single approval$4,862,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)891
- Jobs per approval10.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active37
- Distinct industries receiving approvals55
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms17
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter66
- Franchise loans19
- Franchise share of approvals21.6 percent
- Most active lenderArvest Bank (14)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$9.6 m
- Average 504 approval$955,200
- Median 504 approval$642,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval7.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.9
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$70.4 m
The average approval of $691,427 sits well above the median of $194,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.3 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.
Sebastian County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Sebastian County
Do SBA loans in Sebastian County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded16
- Paid in full15
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure51
- Status: Paid in full15
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled17
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 16 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.
Sebastian County
SBA lending by place in Sebastian County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Fort Smith, approvals66
- Greenwood, approvals10
- Barling, approvals3
- Hackett, approvals3
- Lavaca, approvals2
- Charleston, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | 66 | $49,213,600 |
| Greenwood | 10 | $2,959,100 |
| Barling | 3 | $767,000 |
| Hackett | 3 | $256,400 |
| Lavaca | 2 | $150,000 |
| Charleston | 1 | $4,862,000 |
| Frisco | 1 | $1,840,000 |
| Hartford | 1 | $647,500 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $150,000 |
Fort Smith accounts for 66 approvals against 10 in Greenwood. 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.
Sebastian County
How large is Sebastian County?
- Land area532 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties74th of 75
- Width, east to west23.7 mi
- Height, north to south35.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land242
- Establishments per square mile6.39
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.
Sebastian County
Flood risk in Sebastian County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Sebastian County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050462
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Sebastian 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 Sebastian County (community 050462), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Sebastian 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. 83.3 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 Sebastian 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 Sebastian County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024128,900
- Households52,181
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$57,790
- Median age38.0
Common questions
Sebastian County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Sebastian County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 130,035 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 128,900, in 52,181 households, ranking 4th of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Sebastian County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.75 percent since the 2020 census base of 127,797, to 130,035 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,582 births against 1,468 deaths, with net migration of 717. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Sebastian County?
$57,790. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $176,200, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $886 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Sebastian County?
3,398 establishments, employing 60,727 people with an annual payroll of $3.20 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 Sebastian County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 12,904 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 67,665 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,173, or $1,061 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Sebastian County?
88 7(a) approvals totaling $60.8 m since FY2020, across 37 lenders, with a median approval of $194,200, plus 10 504 approvals worth $9.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Sebastian County?
385 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $93.1 m. Multifamily was 39.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Sebastian 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 Sebastian County come from?
The largest single origin is Crawford County, with 647 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,340 against $52,682 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Sebastian 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 Sebastian 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.
Sebastian County
Cities and places in Sebastian.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Sebastian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | city | 89,805 | 66 | Wholly in this county |
| Greenwood | city | 9,616 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Barling | city | 5,007 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lavaca | city | 2,489 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Mansfield | city | 1,204 | None recorded | 39.6 percent here, 60.4 percent Scott County |
| Hackett | city | 1,118 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bonanza | city | 711 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Central City | town | 627 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hartford | city | 496 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Huntington | city | 468 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Midland | town | 262 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 88 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Sebastian County, the largest being Charleston (1), Frisco (1), Muskogee (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.
Nearby