City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Benton, AR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Benton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

35,954
Residents
$69,638
Median income
$199,400
Median home
$1,147
Median rent (state)

Benton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Benton lands in the 49th percentile for household income and the 20th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

49th
percentile, household income
43rd
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
20th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Benton, AR

Arkansas's Benton is a small city, with 35,954 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $69,638 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.2%. Typical homes in Benton are valued around $199,400, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. Educational attainment runs 28.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 64.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 244 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 118% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2679.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 62.6°F with 53.4 inches of precipitation per year and 1.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: the state registers 86.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,147 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $210 across Arkansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 77.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

35,954 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$69,638 /yr

Poverty 6.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Benton compare to other US cities?

Where Benton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 49% higher than other cities
Home value 43% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 20% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Arkansas, Benton ranks #119 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Benton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arkansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arkansas-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Benton toward the top of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Benton ranks #56 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Benton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#81 of 495
84th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#55 of 524
80th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#58 of 482
88th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#394 of 524
25th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#56 of 524
89th percentile in Arkansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arkansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

49thIncome percentile
20thSafety percentile

49th percentile nationally for median household income · 20th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Benton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Benton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 44 Avg. percentile National median
Benton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Benton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$199,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 57% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Benton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Benton, AR Benton, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Benton, AR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Benton, AR median $69,638/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Benton, AR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Benton, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
35,954
Median Income
$69,638
Median Home Value
$199,400
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Labor force participation
64.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2679.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
414.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2265.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.6°F
Annual Precipitation
53.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.3"

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,000 residents36,000 residents38,000 residents40,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 35,135 residents 38,898 residents ▲ +10.7%
Benton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
244
housing units authorized
Single-Family
244
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 112
2020 226
2021 326
2022 304
2023 148
2024 244

Permit volume increased 118% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.5%
Carpool
9.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
7.5%

Based on 17,960 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arkansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$210
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arkansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arkansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Benton sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,147/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Hot Springs
38,023 people
Sherwood
32,915 people
Pine Bluff
40,436 people
Bella Vista
30,935 people
Paragould
29,940 people
Texarkana
29,343 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Benton's 35,954 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Moorpark, CA
35,957 people
Kaneohe, HI
35,945 people
Randallstown, MD
35,975 people
Lauderdale Lakes, FL
35,924 people
Richmond West, FL
35,988 people
Windsor, CO
35,918 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Benton's $69,638 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oregon, IL
$69,632 median income
Fort Gibson, OK
$69,632 median income
Bridgeville, DE
$69,631 median income
Idaho Falls, ID
$69,630 median income
Bendon, MI
$69,625 median income
Harper, TX
$69,653 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Benton, AR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Benton, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.3% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.7% White 80.3% Black or African American 10.1% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.0% Two or more races 5.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Benton compares to nearby Arkansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Benton (this city) 35,954 $69,638
Hot Springs 38,023 $46,441
Sherwood 32,915 $79,157
Pine Bluff 40,436 $41,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Benton, AR?

What is the population of Benton, AR? +

The population of Benton, AR stands at 35,954 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Benton, AR? +

Median annual household income in Benton runs $69,638, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Benton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Benton; the closest available measure is the Arkansas state average, a cost of living index of 86.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arkansas vary by metro area.

Is Benton, AR safe? +

Benton has a total crime rate of 2679.2 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Benton, AR? +

The median home value in Benton is $199,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Benton? +

Benton has an average annual temperature of 62.6°F, 53.4 inches of precipitation, and 1.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.