BENTON, Ark.— Benton has now earned the title of the fastest-growing large city in central Arkansas, according to a new demographic report from Metroplan.

The city grew by approximately 8.2% over the past year and has officially surpassed 38,000 residents, making it the top performer among larger cities in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area.

“It’s hard to imagine Benton being called a large town,” said Matt Thibault, communications director for the City of Benton. “But we’ve officially topped 38,000 residents, and we couldn’t be more happy about it.”

Metroplan’s 2025 Demographic Review and Outlook attributes the region’s growth primarily to net in-migration. Benton, in particular, has benefited from its proximity to Little Rock, offering access to urban amenities

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