Is being in an area of Arkansas that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?
Depends on who you ask.
Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville, while others want peace and quiet like in Barling and Cherokee Village, thank you very much.
But today, we’re going to put opinions aside and look at the cold, hard facts — since 2010, which cities in Arkansas have grown the fastest.
After getting knee-deep in the Census’s American Community Survey using Saturday Night Science, we emerged with this set of cities in the Natural State that have people climbing over each other to get in.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Arkansas For 2026
What’s the fastest growing city in Arkansas for 2026? Based on the most recent ACS data, Cave Springs ranks as the fastest-growing city in Arkansas. If you happen to be a resident of Cave Springs, you’re probably not surprised to find it on our list.
If you’re surprised — and you’re wondering why these places are a big deal — keep reading. We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 places in Arkansas grow like weeds.
For more Arkansas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In The United States
- Fastest Growing States In The United States
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Arkansas For 2026
1. Cave Springs
/10
2. Centerton
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Population: 21,920
Population 2010: 8,314
Percent Growth 163.7%
Absolute Growth: 13,606
More on Centerton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
3. Tontitown
/10
Population: 6,425
Population 2010: 2,585
Percent Growth 148.5%
Absolute Growth: 3,840
More on Tontitown: Data | Movers
4. Prairie Grove
/10
Population: 7,798
Population 2010: 4,212
Percent Growth 85.1%
Absolute Growth: 3,586
More on Prairie Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
5. Pea Ridge
/10
Population: 8,108
Population 2010: 4,414
Percent Growth 83.7%
Absolute Growth: 3,694
More on Pea Ridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
6. Bentonville
/10
Population: 58,249
Population 2010: 32,685
Percent Growth 78.2%
Absolute Growth: 25,564
More on Bentonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
7. Ward
/10
Population: 6,573
Population 2010: 3,832
Percent Growth 71.5%
Absolute Growth: 2,741
More on Ward: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
8. Farmington
/10
Population: 9,094
Population 2010: 5,763
Percent Growth 57.8%
Absolute Growth: 3,331
More on Farmington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
9. Lowell
/10
Population: 10,849
Population 2010: 7,001
Percent Growth 55.0%
Absolute Growth: 3,848
More on Lowell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
10. Fayetteville
/10
Population: 99,319
Population 2010: 71,770
Percent Growth 38.4%
Absolute Growth: 27,549
More on Fayetteville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In the Natural State for 2026
To figure out which cities are growing the most, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the growth rates for cities since the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:
- Current Population
- Population in 2010
- Growth rate from 2010 to Current (The latest available data which came out in Dec 2024)
We ranked all 68 Arkansas cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.
The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest-growing city in the Natural State.
And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula:
[Current Population – Population 2010] / [Population 2010]
The data has been updated for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the fastest growing cities in Arkansas.
Here’s a graph of the cities in Arkansas with the most significant percent increase in population:
Summary: These Places Grew Up So Fast In Arkansas, You Know?
So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in Arkansas are led by Cave Springs which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.
The fastest-growing cities in Arkansas are Cave Springs, Centerton, Tontitown, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Bentonville, Ward, Farmington, Lowell, and Fayetteville.
It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know!
These places have been growing (or shrinking) the slowest (fastest):
- Helena-West Helena
- Pine Bluff
- Blytheville
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
- Safest Places In Arkansas
- Worst Places To Live In Arkansas
Fastest Growing Places In Arkansas For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Population 2010 | Growth | Absolute Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cave Springs | 6,008 | 1,447 | 315.2% | 4,561 |
| 2 | Centerton | 21,920 | 8,314 | 163.7% | 13,606 |
| 3 | Tontitown | 6,425 | 2,585 | 148.5% | 3,840 |
| 4 | Prairie Grove | 7,798 | 4,212 | 85.1% | 3,586 |
| 5 | Pea Ridge | 8,108 | 4,414 | 83.7% | 3,694 |
| 6 | Bentonville | 58,249 | 32,685 | 78.2% | 25,564 |
| 7 | Ward | 6,573 | 3,832 | 71.5% | 2,741 |
| 8 | Farmington | 9,094 | 5,763 | 57.8% | 3,331 |
| 9 | Lowell | 10,849 | 7,001 | 55.0% | 3,848 |
| 10 | Fayetteville | 99,319 | 71,770 | 38.4% | 27,549 |