Latest report shows growth in central Arkansas above national levels, some cities growing a great deal

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Metroplan released its latest demographic and outlook report showing where and what kind of population trends are taking place in central Arkansas.

Metroplan is a federally designated planning organization that covers Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski, and Saline counties. It is a voluntary association of local governments that has been in operation since 1955.

The central Arkansas region has grown at a rate of 0.7% annually from 2020 to 2025, according to the report’s authors, who noted that this growth rate is faster than the national average. Most of this growth is attributed to more people moving into central Arkansas than moving out, according to the study.

The study’s population forecast suggests the region will add about 14,900 new households between 2025 and 2030. This forecast also suggests the region could reach a population of 867,000 by 2050.

The study showed that the region’s ratio of births to deaths, indicating a natural increase, remained positive; however, the margin of fertility over mortality is very thin.

Central Arkansas has seen a slight increase in commuting on foot and by bike, despite a decline in other modes of transportation following the pandemic. It is likely that recent local improvements to pedestrian infrastructure, including bike lanes, bridges and trails, have helped boost the regional trend, officials stated.

The study also showed exceptional growth in particular cities.

Benton, as one example, grew fastest in the region for larger cities, at an 8% growth rate to a population of 38,000. The fastest-growing small city in the study was Ward, which grew 19% from 2020 to 2025, making it the region’s 10th-largest city.

The study also found that single-family housing construction in central Arkansas defied high interest rates during 2024 and rose above 2023 levels. The fastest uptick in new single-family housing starts occurred in Bryant, increasing 88%, while Benton and Cabot rose by over 50%.