TONTITOWN, Ark. — It's no secret the population in Northwest Arkansas has been on the rise for years, and while Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Rogers are all growing as you'd expect, the smaller cities in the area are becoming especially appealing to newcomers, according to new Census data.
In 2020, Tontitown's population was 4,300 and by the end of last year, it jumped to over 7,300. According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, Tontitown had the highest growth rate in Northwest Arkansas for 2023.
“A lot of people are moving into Northwest Arkansas into areas like Tontitown, Siloam Springs, Pea Ridge, and Bella Vista, because there's a lot more land out there. So we have a lot of builders that are moving into those areas and expanding,” local realtor Katlyn Munch said.
Munch says that affordability is a key factor in the growth of the cities.
“Affordability is better. There's more restaurants and businesses popping up in these areas. So it's also making these cities more appealing to people, and they still provide easy access to all that Northwest Arkansas has to offer.”
When it comes to Tontitown, a city in Northwest Arkansas that the Census says is growing quickly, Munch says there is a lot to love about the city.
“One of my favorite things about Tontitown is the winery. It's so fun, they have live music and they have bingo. A lot of people also like to move into Tontitown because there's a lot of new construction out there. A lot of builders are offering incentives in that area," Munch said.
Munch says that she is ultimately excited about the growth in the area.
“If you drive on Sunset, you know that Tontitown is hot, and people are moving there. But people are moving all over Northwest Arkansas," Munch said. "Every city in Northwest Arkansas is experiencing an exponential amount of growth because every city here is awesome.”
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