Van Buren County, Arkansas: commercial real estate data.
Van Buren County, Arkansas had an estimated 16,152 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,792, across 708 square miles. County output reached $483.8 m in 2024, 319 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 10 7(a) approvals worth $8.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Van Buren County
How many people live in Van Buren County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202415,998
- Households7,432
- Average household size2.15
- Median household income$50,354
- Median age49.6
- Median gross rent$722 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$135,700
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,950
- Population under 183,076
- Share under 1819.2 percent
- Population 65 and over4,337
- Share 65 and over27.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,585
- Civilian labor force5,945
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over46.0 percent
- Rank by population among Arkansas counties48th of 75
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2100th of 3,222
Van Buren County is the 48th largest of 75 Arkansas counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 27.1 percent against 19.2 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.
Van Buren County
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,152
- Census 2020 base population15,792
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.28 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20240
- Births, 2024134
- Deaths, 2024289
- Natural change, 2024-155
- Net domestic migration, 2024146
- Net international migration, 20248
- Total net migration, 2024154
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024915
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1080th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.28 percent since the 2020 census base.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Van Buren County
Where are people moving to Van Buren County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving574
- People arriving, from those returns1,180
- Tax returns filed by households leaving378
- Net household movement196
- Adjusted gross income arriving$34.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,904
- Average income of a leaving household$41,653
- Largest single originFaulkner County (99 households)
- Largest single destinationFaulkner County (84 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner County | 99 | 219 | $6.3 m |
| Pulaski County | 39 | 75 | $3.2 m |
| Cleburne County | 31 | 75 | $1.9 m |
Households arriving report $18,251 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 Faulkner 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.
Van Buren County
What is the Van Buren County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$483.8 m
- County GDP, 2023$479.1 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.0 percent
- GDP change over five years33.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arkansas areas BEA publishes54th of 75
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2423rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$30,240
Output grew 1.0 percent in the latest year and 33.0 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.
Van Buren County
Employment by industry in Van Buren County
- Covered employment, annual average3,804
- Establishments reporting350
- Average annual pay$43,889
- Average weekly wage$844
- Retail trade, employment651
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,868
- Transportation and warehousing, employment338
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$87,547
- Accommodation and food services, employment249
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,443
- Other services, except public administration, employment173
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$33,600
- Construction, employment168
- Manufacturing, employment158
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 651 | 48 | $30,868 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 338 | 24 | $87,547 |
| Accommodation and food services | 249 | 24 | $17,443 |
| Other services, except public administration | 173 | 20 | $33,600 |
| Construction | 168 | 38 | $41,977 |
| Manufacturing | 158 | 10 | $39,384 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 117 | 14 | $34,417 |
| Finance and insurance | 102 | 26 | $56,716 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 651 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Van Buren County
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
- Establishments, all industries319
- Employment at those establishments3,279
- Annual payroll$114.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.9
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.
Van Buren County
Building permits in Van Buren County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202416
- Declared construction value permitted$7.0 m
- Single family units authorized16
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$436,375
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Van Buren County
SBA loans in Van Buren County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded10
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$8.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$835,210
- Median 7(a) approval$238,500
- Largest single approval$3,675,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)46
- Jobs per approval4.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals8
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals10.0 percent
- Most active lenderFirst Service Bank (5)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.7 m
- Average 504 approval$3,683,000
- Median 504 approval$3,683,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval15.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved4.1
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$12.0 m
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.
Van Buren County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Van Buren County
Do SBA loans in Van Buren County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
Only 4 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.
Van Buren County
SBA lending by place in Van Buren County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Bee Branch, approvals3
- Damascus, approvals3
- Harrison, approvals2
- Higden, approvals1
- Shirley, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Branch | 3 | $6,459,000 |
| Damascus | 3 | $274,200 |
| Harrison | 2 | $1,350,900 |
| Higden | 1 | $250,000 |
| Shirley | 1 | $18,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Van Buren County
How large is Van Buren County?
- Land area708 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arkansas counties27th of 75
- Width, east to west34.3 mi
- Height, north to south29.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land23
- Establishments per square mile0.45
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.
Van Buren County
Flood risk in Van Buren County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Van Buren County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 050566
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 10
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County (community 050566), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 10, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Van Buren 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 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202415,998
- Households7,432
- Average household size2.15
- Median household income$50,354
- Median age49.6
Common questions
Van Buren County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,152 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 15,998, in 7,432 households, ranking 48th of 75 Arkansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Van Buren County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.28 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,792, to 16,152 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 134 births against 289 deaths, with net migration of 154. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Van Buren County?
$50,354. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $135,700, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $722 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Van Buren County?
319 establishments, employing 3,279 people with an annual payroll of $114.2 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 Van Buren County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 651 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,804 jobs at an average annual pay of $43,889, or $844 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Van Buren County?
10 7(a) approvals totaling $8.4 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $238,500, plus 1 504 approvals worth $3.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Van Buren County?
16 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Van Buren 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 Van Buren County come from?
The largest single origin is Faulkner County, with 99 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,904 against $41,653 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.
Van Buren County
Cities and places in Van Buren.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Van Buren County. All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Bay | city | 2,515 | None recorded | 83.4 percent here, 16.6 percent Cleburne County |
| Clinton | city | 2,509 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Damascus | town | 348 | 3 | 60.1 percent here, 39.9 percent Faulkner County |
| Dennard | CDP | 315 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shirley | town | 269 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bee Branch | CDP | 196 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 10 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Van Buren County, the largest being Harrison (2), Higden (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.
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