Little Rock, Arkansas – Central Arkansas continues to see population and economic growth, with new information from Metroplan pointing to Little Rock and Conway as the region’s fastest-growing cities and Faulkner and Saline counties leading growth at the county level.
The latest trends also show that the region’s expanding economy is creating stronger demand for housing. According to Jonthan Lupton with Metroplan, housing permits in Pulaski County have increased over the past year, while demand remains strong across central Arkansas for townhouses and single-family homes.
Lupton said the region’s economy has remained resilient, even when facing changes that could have affected the numbers. One example was the closure of an Amazon warehouse, which he said had only a limited effect on the broader economic picture.
“Business is doing pretty well, one of the striking things is how the amazon warehouse shut down barley hit the numbers we just can’t find much evidence, and that’s a sign so much of the rest of the economy is thriving,” Lupton said.
The continued economic activity is also being reflected in population growth. Metroplan says central Arkansas remains an affordable place for many residents, with people spending less than 20% of their income on either owning a home or paying rent.
That affordability, combined with a growing regional economy, is helping attract and retain residents. Lupton said the economy has expanded at a faster pace during the 2020 decade than it did during the previous decade, and he considers that growth one of the factors contributing to the increase in population.
Housing is likely to remain an important issue as more people move into the region. The demand for both townhouses and single-family homes suggests developers will continue to face pressure to provide additional places for residents.
The growth is not limited to the largest cities. Faulkner and Saline counties are currently identified as the fastest-growing counties in the region, showing that population increases are occurring across different parts of central Arkansas.
Looking further into the future, Lupton expects the region could experience another major increase in population by 2060. His projection suggests central Arkansas could potentially add more than 800,000 new residents.
Such an increase would bring significant changes to the region, including additional demand for housing and continued pressure on local infrastructure and services. At the same time, Lupton cautioned that the growth seen today should not necessarily be expected to continue at the same pace indefinitely.
“But that does not mean were going to just be soaring into the future. You can expect slower growth rates overall,” Lupton said.
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The latest Metroplan trends provide a picture of a region that is still expanding but may gradually move toward slower growth rates. For now, strong economic activity, increased housing demand and population gains continue to shape central Arkansas.
With Little Rock and Conway leading city growth and Faulkner and Saline counties showing strong population increases, the region is preparing for a future in which more residents could call central Arkansas home. The challenge will be meeting that demand while growth rates eventually begin to moderate.
