Benton County, AR

This county of 342,357 residents needs 25,403 more housing units over the next five years. Benton County is part of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

Housing snapshot

Population
342,357 (2026)
Households
119,968
Median household income
$106,176 (2026)
Typical home value
$361,368
Owner-occupied
61%
Five-year housing need
25,403 units

Comparison to other Arkansas counties

Benton County: $106,176 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$40K >$83K
Benton County: 1.34 jobs to household ratio
<0.24 >1.44
Benton County: Permits since 2021 represent 20.3% of housing
<0% >4.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Benton County, AR is valued at $361,368, well above the Arkansas average of $171,653. Benton County, AR's median household income of $106,176 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Benton County, AR has a population of roughly 303,632, growing steadily at 2.7% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Benton County, AR is a growing community of roughly 119,968 households, with population increasing at 2.7% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Benton County, AR is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 74% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Benton County, AR, with 61% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Benton County, AR needs 25,403 new units over the next 5 years.

22,703
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
18.9%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 119,968 in 2026 to 142,671 in 2031.
2,700
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
674
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.1 per 1,000 units.
405
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 1.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
1,159
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 4.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
462
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 3.8%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
25,403
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
5,081
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
20.7%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
4.1%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?