City · Arkansas
Benton, Arkansas
Benton, city, in Saline County, Arkansas. Benton had 38,898 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 35,014 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 36,595 (±52). GEOID 0505290.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
38,898
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 35,014 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,595 ±52
Median household income
$72,876
±$5,151 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$212,700
±$9,270 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$1,072
±$42 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Benton and what county is it in?
Benton is a city in Saline County, Arkansas. It covers 23.1 square miles of land, 1,515 residents per square mile in 2020.
Benton is in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Benton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 38,898 people lived in Benton on July 1, 2025, up 11.1% since 2020, faster than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 35,014 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 36,595 (±52).
| Measure | Benton | Saline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 36,595 ±52 | 127,479 | +916 |
| Households | 15,377 ±538 | 50,203 | +2,295 |
| Average household size | 2.35 ±0.08 | 2.51 | −0.34 |
| Housing units | 16,230 ±534 | 52,934 | +1,732 |
Benton's population since 2000
From 21,906 in 2000 to 38,898 in 2025: up 77.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Benton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Benton?
The median resident of Benton is 38.1 years old; 23.4% are under 18 and 16.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 9.9%. 2.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Benton | Saline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 ±2.1 | 40.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.4% ±1.6 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.1% ±1.8 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±1.6 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 7.3% | +3.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.7% ±2.6 pts | 78.3% | −5.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.9% ±2.1 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9% ±1.1 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.0% ±2.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.9% ±1.5 pts | 8.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.0% ±2.0 pts | 15.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.2% ±1.6 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.8% ±1.1 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.3% ±3.4 pts | 29.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.3% ±2.0 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.7% ±2.2 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Benton earn?
Half of Benton's 15,377 households earn less than $72,876 a year (±$5,151), against $79,046 in Saline County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $72,647 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Benton | Saline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,876 ±$5,151 | $79,046 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,294 ±$5,590 | $95,923 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,819 ±$2,418 | $38,887 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.1% ±1.8 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.7% ±3.9 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.0% ±0.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7% ±1.0 pts | 96.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±2.4 pts | 89.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Benton?
Owners occupy 68.2% of Benton's occupied homes and renters 31.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $212,700 by its owner (±$9,270). The median renter pays $1,072 a month including utilities, and 31.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Benton | Saline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $212,700 ±$9,270 | $221,200 | +$28,834 |
| Median gross rent | $1,072 ±$42 | $1,033 | +$92 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.3% ±6.5 pts | 29.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,384 ±$99 | $1,448 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.2% ±3.1 pts | 78.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 31.8% ±3.1 pts | 21.8% | – |
| Housing units | 16,230 ±534 | 52,934 | +1,732 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8% ±2.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.0% ±2.7 pts | 75.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±1.4 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 19.7% ±3.1 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.0% ±1.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Benton building?
Builders took permits for 242 new housing units in Benton in 2025 (242 in single-family houses), 6.2 per 1,000 residents against 5.0 across Arkansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Benton work and get to work?
79.9% of Benton's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.
| Measure | Benton | Saline County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±2.6 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% ±1.2 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.9% ±3.0 pts | 79.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±2.1 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.4% ±2.4 pts | 10.4% | +6.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.2 min ±1.3 | 25.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Benton?
8 census tracts lie mostly in Benton, and 8 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,185 (Tract 101.01) to $103,750 (Tract 103.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 101.05Saline County | 5,366 | $73,860 |
| Tract 101.01Saline County | 3,956 | $49,185 |
| Tract 101.04Saline County | 4,313 | $90,246 |
| Tract 103.03Saline County | 4,551 | $103,750 |
| Tract 103.02Saline County | 4,204 | $74,917 |
| Tract 106.01Saline County | 3,380 | $52,446 |
| Tract 103.01Saline County | 4,814 | $61,144 |
| Tract 105.18Saline County | 3,618 | $99,792 |
| Tract 101.06Saline County | 3,591 | $81,050 |
| Tract 106.02Saline County | 3,050 | $58,725 |
| Tract 105.11Saline County | 7,331 | $91,287 |
| Tract 101.07Saline County | 5,376 | $63,378 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Benton) · Census block assignment files
How does Benton compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Benton is the 1,068th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 10th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Benton ranks 35th of 194 places in Arkansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 10th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 31st | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 10th | 197 |
| Median household income | 35th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 30th | 197 |
| Median home value | 38th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 35th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 157th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36th | 189 |
| Median age | 89th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67th | 197 |
| Work from home | 42nd | 76 |
| Travel time to work | 64th | 197 |
Benton's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Benton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Benton?
4 of the 57 figures for Benton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Benton.