The Town FilesBenton, Arkansas
City in Saline County · population 35,014 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,700
- Household income
- $72,876
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 38.1
Benton is a city of 35,014 people in Saline County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $212,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 88% of Arkansas towns, more upscale than 85% of Arkansas towns.
How Benton ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benton is worth $212,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $72,876, which is more affordable than 41% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,072 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,072 | $792 |
| Median household income | $72,876 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 134 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 147 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on January 7, 1978.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 27,501 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,454 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Benton
15 public schools with 7,904 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-7 | 1,380 | 17.3 |
| BENTON HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 1,298 | 11.5 |
| BENTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 8-9 | 991 | 16.2 |
| PERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 480 | 17.1 |
| SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 473 | 15.8 |
| RINGGOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 442 | 16.4 |
| HURRICANE CREEK ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 433 | 14.9 |
| CALDWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 424 | 15.7 |
| MT. VIEW ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 403 | 16.1 |
| WESTBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-3 | 369 | 18.5 |
| ANGIE GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 345 | 15.7 |
| HARMONY GROVE HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 306 | 6.0 |
Towns near Benton
- Salem, AR3.7 mi · 2,544 people · home $202,100
- Bryant, AR5.3 mi · 20,663 people · home $223,200
- Haskell, AR6.1 mi · 3,956 people · home $160,600
- Alexander, AR7.5 mi · 3,385 people · home $174,000
- Shannon Hills, AR10.1 mi · 4,490 people · home $170,900
- East End, AR14.0 mi · 7,137 people · home $223,900
- Landmark, AR14.8 mi · 3,585 people · home $156,600
- Little Rock, AR15.9 mi · 202,591 people · home $236,400
Benton questions
Is Benton, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 29% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 18%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $212,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,876, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,072 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)