Benton County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Benton County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 294,541. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benton County is 35.8 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benton County is $89,879. This is 53% higher than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 52% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $285,100. Housing costs are 63% higher than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 67.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Benton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.1%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 14.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (18.1% vs 8.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.3% vs 1.5%).

Education

36.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Benton County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.6%.