Research Center
Metroplan’s Research Center is here to make it easy for anyone to find facts and figures about Central Arkansas—right down to individual counties and cities. Crunching the numbers is a big part of how we plan transportation. We pull in data from all over—like the U.S. Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, plus our own records and other trusted sources—to get the full picture.
Central Arkansas in Focus: Key Trends and Stats
From population growth to commuting patterns, the numbers tell the story of how Central Arkansas is changing. This snapshot brings together key statistics and trends that shape our region—helping us understand where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re headed.
Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per capita. 2nd highest among the 100 largest U.S. urbanized areas.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, 2022
38.0
Central Arkansas population estimate as of 1/1/2025
Source: Metroplan estimates
774,289
Population density of incorporated areas in Central Arkansas (people per square mile
Source: Census 2020
1,351.6
Jobs in Central Arkansas as of May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
402,300
Regional GDP in 2023; 81st largest among U.S. metro areas.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
$51.2b