Northwest Arkansas among fastest-growing metros in US

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The U.S. Census Bureau says Northwest Arkansas remained the fastest-growing in the state and among the fastest-growing in the country in 2023, according to Talk Business & Politics.

Alison Wright with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute said the metro estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau were expected with the continuous growth of the area.

NWA (or the Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale metro) was the 18th fastest-growing in the U.S. with its population increasing by 2.3% from 576,967 in 2022 to 590,337 in 2023.

Northwest Arkansas was the 98th most populous metro in 2023 for the second consecutive year after jumping three spots in 2022.

Census: These Arkansas counties grew the most in 2023

The Little Rock metro remained the 80th most populous metro in the country. Fort Smith dropped one spot to 206th and Jonesboro moved up one spot to 304th.

Here’s how the Arkansas metros’ population estimates have changed since 2020:

TB&P says the Census Bureau plans to release cities and towns’ population estimates for 2023 in May.

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