More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.
Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.
Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Arkansas using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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1 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,388
- Population: 17,309
- Median household income: $44,968
- Median home value: $123,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $708 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Monticello High School (grade C+), Monticello Intermediate School (grade C+), Monticello Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Monticello Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monticello (grade B), Live Oak Township (grade B+), Winchester (grade B+)
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2 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,387
- Population: 16,827
- Median household income: $48,129
- Median home value: $97,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $815 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Cross County Elementary Tech Academy (grade A minus), Cross County High School (grade B), Wynne High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Wynne (grade C+), Ellis Township (grade B), Smith Township (grade B)
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3 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,373
- Population: 19,384
- Median household income: $48,449
- Median home value: $120,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $730 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Cossatot River Elementary School (grade B+), Mena Middle School (grade B), Holly Harshman Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Mena (grade B minus), Ozark Township (grade B+), Center Township (grade B)
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4 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,303
- Population: 18,022
- Median household income: $68,598
- Median home value: $141,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $802 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Poyen Elementary School (grade B+), Sheridan High School (grade B), Sheridan Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Sheridan (grade B), Poyen (grade B+), Simpson Township (grade B)
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5 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,278
- Population: 42,682
- Median household income: $47,613
- Median home value: $137,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $831 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Genoa Central Elementary School (grade A minus), Gary E. Cobb Middle School (grade A minus), Genoa Central High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Texarkana (grade B), Garland Township (grade B+), Cleveland Township (grade B minus)
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6 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,271
- Population: 6,259
- Median household income: $49,608
- Median home value: $96,100 (69% own)
- Median rent: $582 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: McCrory Elementary School (grade A minus), McCrory High School (grade B), Augusta High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: McCrory (grade B+), Patterson (grade B+), De View Township (grade B)
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7 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,258
- Population: 13,748
- Median household income: $46,159
- Median home value: $110,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $616 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Melbourne Elementary School (grade B+), Melbourne High School (grade B), Calico Rock High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Drytown Township (grade A minus), Mill Creek Township (grade B+), Lacrosse Township (grade B+)
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8 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,171
- Population: 12,779
- Median household income: $44,824
- Median home value: $125,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $732 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Nashville Elementary School (grade A minus), Umpire K-12 School (grade B+), Nashville Primary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Nashville Christian Academy (grade unavailable), UMPIRE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Nashville (grade B minus), Buck Range Township (grade B+), Center Point Township (grade B+)
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9 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,122
- Population: 20,782
- Median household income: $50,282
- Median home value: $129,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $698 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Nemo Vista Middle School (grade A minus), Nemo Vista High School (grade B), Morrilton Intermediate School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade C+), Riverview Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morrilton (grade B), Cedar Falls Township (grade A), Center Ridge (grade B+)
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10 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,117
- Population: 10,205
- Median household income: $49,248
- Median home value: $99,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $657 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Centerpoint Elementary School (grade B+), Murfreesboro Elementary School (grade B), Kirby High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Glenwood Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Muddy Fork Township (grade A), Antoine Township (grade B+), White Township (grade B+)
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11 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,090
- Population: 17,024
- Median household income: $58,695
- Median home value: $125,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $749 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Dewitt Middle School (grade B+), Dewitt Elementary School (grade B), Dewitt High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Grand Prairie Evangelical Methodist School (grade B+), St. John's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Holy Rosary Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Stuttgart (grade B), DeWitt (grade B minus), Bayou Meto Township (grade A)
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12 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,087
- Population: 77,118
- Median household income: $51,144
- Median home value: $150,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $793 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Ahlf Junior High School (grade A), Westside Elementary School (grade A minus), Southwest Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Harding Academy (grade A minus), Crosspointe Preparatory (grade A minus), Liberty Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Searcy (grade A minus), Beebe (grade B), Judsonia (grade B)
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13 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,062
- Population: 12,024
- Median household income: $58,627
- Median home value: $108,200 (84% own)
- Median rent: $683 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Oscar Hamilton Elementary School (grade B+), Ashdown High School (grade B minus), Margaret Daniels Primary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: New Faith Tabernacle Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Ashdown (grade B+), Jeff Davis Township (grade B+), Jackson Township (grade B+)
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14 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,032
- Population: 40,361
- Median household income: $50,012
- Median home value: $110,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $750 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Armorel Elementary School (grade A minus), Buffalo Island Central East Elementary School (grade A minus), Gosnell Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Delta School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Gosnell (grade B), Manila (grade B), Blytheville (grade B minus)
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15 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,031
- Population: 60,593
- Median household income: $56,702
- Median home value: $154,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $789 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkview Elementary School (grade A minus), Northridge Middle School (grade A minus), Oliver Springs Elementary (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Van Buren (grade A minus), Alma (grade B minus), Van Buren Township (grade A minus)
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16 / 30- Overall Rank: 1,003
- Population: 74,292
- Median household income: $68,078
- Median home value: $169,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $944 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Mountain Springs Elementary School (grade A minus), Cabot Freshman Academy (grade A minus), Cabot Junior High North (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: New Horizon Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Austin (grade A), Cabot (grade A minus), Ward (grade B+)
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17 / 30- Overall Rank: 848
- Population: 15,913
- Median household income: $53,567
- Median home value: $99,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $700 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Dequeen Junior High School (grade A minus), Dequeen High School (grade A minus), Dequeen Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Legacy Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: De Queen (grade B+), Bear Creek Township (grade B+), Gillham (grade B)
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18 / 30- Overall Rank: 823
- Population: 21,469
- Median household income: $48,071
- Median home value: $143,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $690 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Arkadelphia High School (grade C+), Gurdon High School (grade C+), Peake Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Clark County Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Arkadelphia (grade B), Caddo Valley (grade B+), Caddo Township (grade B+)
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19 / 30- Overall Rank: 787
- Population: 28,362
- Median household income: $56,826
- Median home value: $169,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $751 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Green Forest Elementary School (grade B+), Eureka Springs High School (grade B), Eureka Springs Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Clear Spring School (grade unavailable), The Academy of Excellence (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Berryville (grade B), Green Forest (grade B minus), Prairie Township (grade A minus)
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20 / 30- Overall Rank: 755
- Population: 22,707
- Median household income: $47,441
- Median home value: $123,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $690 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Emerson Elementary School (grade A), Taylor Elementary School (grade A), Taylor High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Columbia Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Magnolia (grade B), Emerson (grade A minus), McNeil (grade A minus)
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21 / 30- Overall Rank: 638
- Population: 100,021
- Median household income: $54,229
- Median home value: $166,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $913 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (grade A+), Lakeside Intermediate School (grade A), Lakeside High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Gospel Light Christian School (grade B+), Christian Ministries Academy (grade C), St. John Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hot Springs (grade B+), Rockwell (grade B), Piney (grade B)
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22 / 30- Overall Rank: 551
- Population: 38,815
- Median household income: $49,745
- Median home value: $110,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $775 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkers Chapel Elementary School (grade A minus), Hugh Goodwin Elementary School (grade A minus), Smackover Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: West Side Christian School (grade A minus), Maranatha Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: El Dorado (grade B+), Boone Township (grade A), El Dorado Township (grade B+)
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23 / 30- Overall Rank: 474
- Population: 63,475
- Median household income: $51,678
- Median home value: $152,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $810 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Center Valley Elementary School (grade A), Sequoyah Elementary School (grade A), Pottsville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Valley Christian School (grade B+), St. John Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Russellville (grade A), Pottsville (grade A minus), Illinois Township (grade A minus)
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24 / 30- Overall Rank: 303
- Population: 111,038
- Median household income: $55,169
- Median home value: $182,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $870 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley View Elementary School (grade A), Brookland Elementary School (grade A minus), Valley View Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Ridgefield Christian School (grade A minus), Blessed Sacrament School (grade unavailable), Montessori School of Jonesboro (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Jonesboro (grade B+), Brookland (grade B+), Gilkerson Township (grade A minus)
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25 / 30- Overall Rank: 300
- Population: 123,988
- Median household income: $73,236
- Median home value: $194,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $948 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethel Middle School (grade A), Benton High School (grade A), Perrin Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Arkansas Christian Academy (grade C), Avilla Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bryant (grade A), Alexander (grade A), Salem (grade A minus)
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26 / 30- Overall Rank: 241
- Population: 398,322
- Median household income: $58,326
- Median home value: $187,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $985 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Central High School (grade A), LISA Academy North Middle-High School - High School (grade A), Maumelle Charter Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pulaski Academy (grade A+), The Episcopal Collegiate School (grade A+), Little Rock Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Hillcrest (grade A+), River Mountain (grade A+), Downtown (grade A+)
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27 / 30- Overall Rank: 191
- Population: 124,611
- Median household income: $61,273
- Median home value: $195,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $931 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenbrier Middle School (grade A), Conway High School (grade A), Greenbrier Springhill Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Conway Christian School (grade A minus), St. Joseph School (grade B+), COMPASS ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Conway (grade A), Greenbrier (grade A minus), Mayflower (grade B+)
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28 / 30- Overall Rank: 165
- Population: 128,184
- Median household income: $54,047
- Median home value: $154,900 (60% own)
- Median rent: $805 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwood Junior High School (grade A), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), East Pointe Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Union Christian Academy (grade A), Immaculate Conception Elementary School (grade unavailable), Christ the King Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Greenwood (grade A), Fort Smith (grade A minus), Barling (grade A minus)
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29 / 30- Overall Rank: 123
- Population: 247,331
- Median household income: $61,985
- Median home value: $235,500 (55% own)
- Median rent: $935 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy Jones Center (Springdale) (grade A+), Haas Hall Academy (grade A+), Hellstern Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian School (grade A), Fayetteville Christian School (grade A minus), The New School (grade B+)
- Top places: Johnson (grade A+), Fayetteville (grade A), Elm Springs (grade A)
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30 / 30- Overall Rank: 35
- Population: 286,528
- Median household income: $85,269
- Median home value: $254,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,113 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy at the Lane (Rogers) (grade A+), Fulbright Junior High School (grade A+), Evening Star Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Thaden School (grade A+), Ozark Adventist Academy (grade A minus), Providence Classical Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Bentonville (grade A+), Cave Springs (grade A+), Centerton (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
