Small-town market profile · Arkansas
Malvern, AR area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Malvern area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 33,451
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 12,310
- Median household income
- $55,405
- +26.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $151,100
- Jobs located here
- 7,843
- Highest market score
- 81
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #19 of 481 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Malvern area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Malvern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 33,451 people live in the Malvern area, in 12,310 households. Population estimates show the Malvern area grew 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Malvern area is $55,405 a year, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 26.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Malvern area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Malvern area are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (81); real estate businesses (74); and restaurants and cafes (74). The Malvern area ranks #19 of 481 scored small-town markets for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
The Malvern area is made up of one county, Hot Spring County. For its number of households, the Malvern area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (73% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for restaurants and cafes (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Malvern area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Malvern area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 81 | #19 of 481 | 5 | 4.1 | $3.1M | 184 | 6 |
| Real estate | 74 | #32 of 536 | 5 | 4.1 | Index only | 752 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 74 | #54 of 538 | 67 | 54.4 | $577K | 156 | 34 |
| Insurance agencies | 73 | #82 of 537 | 12 | 9.7 | $2.7M | 217 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 71 | #64 of 538 | 41 | 33.3 | $943K | 142 | 12 |
| Pizza | 68 | #89 of 520 | 6 | 4.9 | $6.4M | 127 | 17 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 68 | #92 of 526 | 6 | 4.9 | $2M | 200 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #100 of 537 | 10 | 8.1 | $3.9M | 127 | 17 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 67 | #77 of 529 | 6 | 4.9 | $6.4M | 174 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 64 | #135 of 538 | 40 | 32.5 | $284K | 106 | 16 |
| Gas stations | 63 | #138 of 536 | 21 | 17.1 | $1.8M | 76 | 14 |
| Pet businesses | 62 | #123 of 527 | 11 | 8.9 | $809K | 92 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 57 | #194 of 538 | 23 | 18.7 | $494K | 111 | 14 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 55 | #221 of 538 | 56 | 45.5 | $210K | 138 | 26 |
| Car washes and detailing | 52 | #202 of 441 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 90 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 50 | #237 of 476 | 7 | 5.7 | $4.2M | 89 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 49 | #276 of 536 | 18 | 14.6 | $1.1M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 49 | #280 of 536 | 13 | 10.6 | $1.5M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #290 of 538 | 45 | 36.6 | $207K | 97 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #315 of 538 | 30 | 24.4 | $2.2M | 66 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 45 | #317 of 506 | 10 | 8.1 | $6.7M | 72 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #227 of 365 | 6 | 4.9 | $312K | 46 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 41 | #258 of 387 | 5 | 4.1 | $1.9M | 112 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 41 | #259 of 398 | 5 | 4.1 | $1.8M | 65 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 40 | #377 of 526 | 15 | 12.2 | $2M | 81 | 19 |
| Child care and preschools | 39 | #325 of 454 | 8 | 6.5 | $495K | 49 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #415 of 538 | 24 | 19.5 | $389K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 34 | #418 of 504 | 10 | 8.1 | $933K | 107 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 32 | #300 of 377 | 6 | 4.9 | $1.6M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 30 | #439 of 529 | 17 | 13.8 | $3.9M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 27 | #396 of 458 | 14 | 11.4 | $841K | 47 | 15 |
| Gyms | 26 | #464 of 506 | 8 | 6.5 | $787K | 60 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 24 | #497 of 535 | 15 | 12.2 | $420K | 63 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 17 | #366 of 378 | 7 | 5.7 | $899K | 45 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $9.7M | 233 | 4 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $7.4M | 62 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 123 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | Index only | 747 | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $7.4M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.8M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 123 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $5.2M | 176 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.9M | 125 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $9.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $8.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Malvern area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.4M | $924 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $37.9M | $3,079 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $38.7M | $3,141 | 77 |
| Groceries | $67M | $5,441 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $9.3M | $758 | 75 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4M | $322 | 55 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.3M | $511 | 52 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.8M | $957 | 74 |
| Pets | $8.9M | $723 | 79 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $19.5M | $1,584 | 77 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32.6M | $2,650 | 135 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $29.7M | $2,410 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.5M | $1,258 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $163M | $13,237 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Malvern area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 33,451+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 12,310
- Median age
- 42.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 615 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 54
- Median household income
- $55,405+26.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $70,323
- Median home value
- $151,100
- Jobs located here
- 7,843
- Daytime population
- 28,215Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Malvern area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Malvern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Malvern area 1
- Hot Spring County, AR33,180 people
Other markets based in Arkansas 12
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area758,629 people
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area577,726 people
- Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area229,899 people
- Jonesboro, AR metro area135,792 people
- Hot Springs, AR metro area100,035 people
- Russellville, AR area84,265 people
- Searcy, AR area77,838 people
- Pine Bluff, AR area72,255 people
- Paragould, AR area46,432 people
- Harrison, AR area45,250 people
- Mountain Home, AR area42,407 people
- Blytheville, AR area39,126 people
Questions
How fast is the Malvern, AR area growing?
Population estimates put the Malvern area at 33,451 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,310 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 26.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Malvern, AR area spend?
Households in the Malvern area spend about $163M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $67M on groceries and $38.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Malvern area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Malvern, AR area?
Of the business types scored in the Malvern area, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (81); real estate businesses (74); and restaurants and cafes (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #19 of 481 scored small-town markets.
How does the Malvern, AR area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Malvern area is $55,405, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $151,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (73% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for restaurants and cafes (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in the Malvern area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Malvern area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Arkansas · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Malvern area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Malvern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.