Benton County Data

Benton County has become a leading retail center for Northwest Arkansas as well as northeast Oklahoma and southwest Missouri. The Bentonville Area Communities are business-friendly and support strategic, planned economic growth. The unemployment rate for Benton County is 3.5 percent, and many of its major employers include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., J.B. Hunt, and Tyson Foods as well as retail and the healthcare industry.

  • The economy of Northwest Arkansas remains strong for many reasons. The region is home to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, the University of Arkansas, and six major health centers. The key to the vibrancy of any economy is job creation.  Create new jobs and the population will follow. Today the region experiences a consistent population growth.

    According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Benton County is the collecting pool for a three-state labor shed.  Each day, workers from northeast Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, and surrounding counties in Arkansas commute to Benton County for employment.  As our region grows with the hard infrastructure of highways, streets, and commercial and retail centers it is also growing the soft infrastructure of the arts, entertainment, museums, recreation facilities, and sports.

    Northwest Arkansas also offers a respite for retirees who move here for the low property taxes and the scenic splendor of abundant lakes, golf courses, and easy lifestyle in Bella Vista and along the shores of Beaver Lake.  All in all, Northwest Arkansas is a diverse, economically sound, safe, and affordable Mecca.

    The region experienced stratospheric population growth and new job creation from the late 1990s through 2006 with monthly population increases of 1,250 people per month and an annualized new job production of 560 per month.

  • The cost-of-living index for northwest Arkansas is 92 percent, compared to the national average of 100 percent.

  • Housing in Northwest Arkansas is both abundant and affordable. The median cost of a three-bedroom home is $122,800 which is slightly less than the national average. As a result, newcomers often find themselves stepping up a level or two in the housing department.  From historic and traditional neighborhoods to brand-new communities, from moderately priced to luxurious, odds are you’ll find the home you want for less. In the past decade alone, over 21,000 building permits produced nearly $1.9 billion in residential construction.

  • The Bentonville/Bella Vista area is the perfect place to experience all four seasons. Warm, sunny summers, crisp yet moderate winters, and spectacular springs and falls will fill your senses with color.

    July average temperatures:
    High 89/Low 66 degrees

    January average temperature:      
    High 44/Low 22 degrees

    Average Relative Humidity:              
    55-60 percent

    Rainfall:                                                    
    40-45 inches annually