1st Advantage MortgageBenton County households have a median income of $93,506 and median rent of $1,277 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Arkansas license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Benton County
- Household income in Benton County
- Housing costs in Benton County
- How Benton County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Benton County
- Benton County and the counties next door
- Benton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
- What a median Benton County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Benton County
- Checklist for Benton County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Benton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Benton County's population at 303,632; only 1 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. It covers 848 square miles of land, or about 358 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 24 places in the county (20 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Springdale, with about 88,160 residents, or 29% of the county.
Household income in Benton County
Benton County households have a median income of $93,506 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 1st of 75 in Arkansas.
| Income band | Share in Benton County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.2% | -14.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +9.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.5% | +8.8 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 46% have six-figure incomes. 7.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.0%). A household earning below the $93,506 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Benton County
A typical Benton County rental runs $1,277 a month including utilities, which is 35% above Arkansas. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. Home values center on $323,500, or 3.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 2001.
| Benton County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,277/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $323,500 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
How Benton County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Benton County residents work in retail trade and 18% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 22% locally and 13% for Arkansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Benton County. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Benton County workers | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 22.0% | +8.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.6% | -6.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Benton County
24 Census places fall mainly inside Benton County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 339,990 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,179 in Decatur to $146,473 in Cave Springs. Rent is cheapest in Decatur ($813) and steepest in Cave Springs ($2,222). City guides exist for the linked Benton County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springdale | city | 88,160 | $69,787 | $1,071 | 12 mi |
| Rogers | city | 72,981 | $86,728 | $1,270 | 6 mi |
| Bentonville | city | 58,249 | $112,792 | $1,344 | 2 mi |
| Bella Vista | city | 31,697 | $88,055 | $1,395 | 9 mi |
| Centerton | city | 21,920 | $115,713 | $1,465 | 3 mi |
| Siloam Springs | city | 18,699 | $72,065 | $1,003 | 19 mi |
| Lowell | city | 10,849 | $95,527 | $1,136 | 8 mi |
| Pea Ridge | city | 8,108 | $95,521 | $1,818 | 11 mi |
| Cave Springs | city | 6,008 | $146,473 | $2,222 | 5 mi |
| Gentry | city | 4,240 | $69,779 | $1,093 | 14 mi |
| Gravette | city | 3,714 | $68,214 | $1,037 | 9 mi |
| Elm Springs | city | 3,069 | $131,739 | $1,321 | 9 mi |
| Little Flock | city | 3,056 | $60,878 | $955 | 7 mi |
| Prairie Creek | CDP | 2,493 | $93,391 | $897 | 11 mi |
Benton County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from McDonald County at 21 miles out to Adair County at 38. Washington County leads the group on income ($70,639), Adair County trails ($48,041), and Benton County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Missouri, Oklahoma, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | - | $93,506 | $1,277/mo | 67% |
| McDonald County, MO | 21 mi | $52,375 | $767/mo | 67% |
| Washington County, AR | 25 mi | $70,639 | $1,071/mo | 56% |
| Delaware County, OK | 31 mi | $56,676 | $913/mo | 77% |
| Barry County, MO | 34 mi | $58,346 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Madison County, AR | 37 mi | $56,798 | $729/mo | 80% |
| Adair County, OK | 38 mi | $48,041 | $667/mo | 69% |
Benton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
38% of Benton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Benton County | Arkansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.8% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Benton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Benton County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 46% of Benton County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Benton County borrower sees (free reports).
What a median Benton County budget can carry
Here is the Benton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $93,506 a year is $7,792 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($1,277)
- $2,074: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Benton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Benton County
Consumer lenders serving Benton County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arkansas that is the Arkansas State Bank Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Checklist for Benton County applicants
A short checklist for Benton County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Ask a Benton County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
City guides inside Benton County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Benton County a high-income county?
Its $93,506 median ranks 1st of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Benton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,277 a month; 33% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Benton County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Centerton and 19 more.
Does living in Benton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Benton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Benton County residents?
The Arkansas State Bank Department licenses consumer lenders in Arkansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.