RANK #629 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 13 AR · POP 127,717
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Faulkner County, Arkansas, is often first recognized for Conway, its largest city and county seat, known as "The City of Colleges" due to the presence of the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College, and Central Baptist College. Located in central Arkansas, the county is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area. Commuting to Little Rock is common for many residents, with an average commute time of 25.5 minutes. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural living, characterized by rolling hills, river valleys, and access to outdoor recreation at places like Lake Conway, the largest man-made lake in the nation overseen by a state Game and Fish Commission, and Cadron Settlement Park along the Arkansas River.
Life in Faulkner County is shaped by its educational institutions and a growing population, attracting families and young professionals. The public school system is highly rated, with several top-ranked elementary schools. The economy is diverse, with significant contributions from education and healthcare, and a growing presence in technology and energy sectors. The county has seen consistent population growth, driven by factors such as schools and housing.
Faulkner County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.1% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +3.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Conway Data Center
Forgelight Ventures (representing an unnamed Fortune 100 company, potentially Google)
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
MAYFLOWER115KV Battery Storage Project
Undisclosed
|
$200M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 37/100, Faulkner County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $67,289 combined with job growth of +1.0% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Faulkner County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $232,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,005/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Faulkner County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +1.0%). Home values shifted +2.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.76% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Faulkner County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.