Vintage 2025 Subcounty Population Estimates; and National, State, and County Housing Unit Estimates
Subcounty Population Estimates
Total Population
The U.S. Census Bureau released today the July 1, 2025 subcounty population estimates for cities and towns. According to these estimates Little Rock continues to be the city with the largest population in Arkansas, with 206,427 people (Figure 1). As with 2024, Little Rock is still followed by Fayetteville and Fort Smith, with 106,623 and 90,855 people residing in each respectively.
Figure 1. Top ten cities by population size in Arkansas, July 1, 2025
Numeric Change in Population
The largest gain in the number of people residing in a city or town between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 was in Fayetteville, which saw its population increase by 2,908 people (Figure 2). This was followed by Centerton and Rogers, which saw increases of 1,466 and 1,457 people respectively.
Figure 2. Largest population gains in cities or towns in Arkansas, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
Pine Bluff experienced the largest decrease in population between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, losing an estimated 540 people (Figure 3). This was followed by West Memphis losing 303 people and Helena-West Helena losing 172 people.
Figure 3. Largest population losses in cities or towns in Arkansas, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
Percent Change in Population
Looking at population change as a percentage of the total population, Highfill was the fastest growing city or town with a population of at least 1,000 people with an increase of 30.6% in its population between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, up from a 15.2% increase the prior year (Figure 4). This acceleration in Highfill’s growth could be led by its proximity to both Springdale and Rogers and recent housing construction projects. This was followed by Pea Ridge with a 10.2% increase and Decatur 9.4%.
Figure 4. Fastest growing cities or towns with 1,000 people or more in Arkansas, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
With regards to population decrease in cities and towns with 1,000 people or more, Yellville saw the fastest decrease, losing 6.5% of its population (Figure 5). Dumas and McGehee followed, losing 3.3% and 3.1% of their populations respectively.
Figure 5. Fastest declining cities or towns with 1,000 people or more in Arkansas, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
Population by Size of City or Town
In Arkansas, an estimated 2,109,043 people live in the 501 incorporated cities and towns around the state (Figure 6). The vast majority of these incorporated places have populations under 5,000 people, with 433 places falling in this category. However, these smaller towns represent only a fraction of the population living in incorporated places, as only 18.4% of that population live in towns of that size. 22.5% live in cities and towns with between 20,000 and 49,999 people, and a further 40.6% live in places with 50,000 or more people.
Figure 6. Total Population Living in Cities and Towns by Population Size in Arkansas, July 1, 2025
Population Change by Size of City or Town
Looking at the average behavior of the above size categories (Figure 7), the smaller cities and towns did not experience much change on average overall. The places with less than 5,000 people only saw an increase of three people on average, with a percent change close to 0%, while those with populations between 5,000 and 9,999 saw an average increase of 47 people and 0.6% growth. The three larger categories all experienced growth at similar rates, between 1.2% and 1.3%, with the average increase in population increasing with the size of the city.
Figure 7. Average Change by Population Size in Cities and Towns in Arkansas, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
Housing Units
Between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 the number of housing units in Arkansas increased by 0.9%, tying it for 17th place along with Alabama and New Mexico among all the states and Washington D.C. (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Ranking of All 50 States and Washington D.C. Based on the Percent Change in Housing Units, July 1, 2024 – July 1, 2025
