RANK #463 / 996 · POP 128,184 · AR
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.9%
Sebastian County, Arkansas, stands out for its unique dual county seats: Fort Smith, the state's second-largest city, and Greenwood. This western Arkansas county, bordering Oklahoma, is situated in the Arkansas River Valley, with its southern edge touching the Ouachita Mountains. The Arkansas River forms its northern boundary. Commutes within the county are generally short, with an average one-way trip of under 20 minutes. The area offers extensive outdoor recreation, including over 7.5 miles of paved trails and 14 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails at Ben Geren Regional Park, one of the largest county parks in Arkansas. Fishing in the Arkansas River is also a popular activity.
Life in Sebastian County offers a family-friendly environment with a relatively low cost of living. The public schools in the county are highly rated, with districts like Greenwood and Fort Smith receiving positive reviews. The economy, historically tied to coal mining and the Fort Chaffee military base, has diversified. While the overall Arkansas economy has recently grown faster, Sebastian County continues to see steady gains in business establishments and average weekly wages. The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith also contributes to the local economy by providing a skilled workforce.
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Sebastian County has a Boom Town Index score of 54/100, ranking #463 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.2% and a median household income of $54,047, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Sebastian County is $154,900 with median rent at $805/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3489, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.2%. Home values changed +2.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.76% of Sebastian County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.