Market rankings · Arkansas
Gyms in Arkansas
Markets across Arkansas ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 809
- 186 chain locations (23%)
- Official establishments
- 257
- All fitness and recreational sports centers · +8.0% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $743.6M
- On memberships, classes and admissions
- Listings per 10k households
- 6.7
- 12% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $919K
- 29% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #41 of 51
- Market score 40 · Lower middle
A site report maps the gyms on map listings around any address in Arkansas by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
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
As of September 2026, map listings count 809 gyms in Arkansas. 186 of them (23%) are chain locations, against 28% across the U.S. That comes to 6.7 for every 10,000 households, 12% below the U.S. rate of 7.6.
Household spending on memberships, classes and admissions in Arkansas comes to about $743.6M a year: $617 per household, 37% below the U.S. average. Spread across 809 gyms, that is $919K per gym, 29% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which gyms share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 257 businesses with payroll in Arkansas classed as fitness and recreational sports centers, up 8.0% from 2019. That is one for every 4,693 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.8% over the same years. The official count takes in all fitness and recreational sports centers, not only gyms: yoga, Pilates and fitness studios are counted too. Since fiscal 2022, 24 SBA-backed loans worth $9.3M have gone to businesses classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Arkansas.
Among the 50 states and DC, Arkansas ranks #41 for gyms, with a Groundwork market score of 40 (lower middle). Of the 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Arkansas, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area scores highest (46). Of the 12 scored small-town markets in or partly in Arkansas, the Searcy area scores highest (47).
Every market in Arkansas for gyms
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Arkansas, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 46 | 168 | 7.8 | $1M | +13.1% | #239 of 387 |
| 2Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 43 | 225 | 7.2 | $940K | +3.8% | #263 of 387 |
| 3Hot Springs, AR | 40 | 23 | 5.3 | $1M | −0.6% | #283 of 387 |
| 4Jonesboro, AR | 39 | 40 | 7.5 | $790K | +3.6% | #298 of 387 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 36 | 342 | 6.5 | $1.1M | −0.3% | #314 of 387 |
| 5Fort Smith, AR-OK | 34 | 70 | 7.7 | $746K | +3.1% | #329 of 387 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 23 | 40 | 7.1 | $799K | −0.4% | #376 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Searcy, AR | 47 | 22 | 7.4 | $701K | +4.2% | #291 of 506 |
| 2Russellville, AR | 46 | 22 | 6.7 | $832K | +1.6% | #301 of 506 |
| 3Blytheville, AR | 45 | 5 | 3.2 | $1.7M | −6.7% | #307 of 506 |
| 4Mountain Home, AR | 43 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.1M | +3.1% | #333 of 506 |
| 5Harrison, AR | 42 | 14 | 7.6 | $692K | +2.4% | #349 of 506 |
| 6Paragould, AR | 36 | 11 | 6.1 | $888K | +3.4% | #404 of 506 |
| 7Pine Bluff, AR | 31 | 12 | 4.5 | $1.1M | −5.6% | #432 of 506 |
| 8Batesville, AR | 29 | 12 | 8.2 | $677K | +2.2% | #446 of 506 |
| 9Camden, AR | 28 | 5 | 4.8 | $1.1M | −3.6% | #454 of 506 |
| 10Malvern, AR | 26 | 8 | 6.5 | $787K | +1.1% | #464 of 506 |
| 11El Dorado, AR | 24 | 9 | 6.0 | $937K | −5.2% | #469 of 506 |
| 12Magnolia, AR | 9 | 7 | 8.3 | $647K | −3.7% | #499 of 506 |
| Forrest City, AR | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $1.1M | −5.3% | |
| Arkadelphia, AR | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $1.4M | −2.2% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lonoke County, AR | 65 | 15 | 5.3 | $1.3M | +3.5% | #369 of 1,792 |
| 2Benton County, AR | 60 | 90 | 8.0 | $1.1M | +16.0% | #536 of 1,792 |
| 3Saline County, AR | 59 | 32 | 6.4 | $1.1M | +7.6% | #580 of 1,792 |
| 4Faulkner County, AR | 48 | 40 | 8.1 | $821K | +8.2% | #1,011 of 1,792 |
| 5Miller County, AR | 46 | 7 | 4.3 | $1.2M | −0.5% | #1,049 of 1,792 |
| 6Garland County, AR | 46 | 23 | 5.3 | $1M | −0.6% | #1,059 of 1,792 |
| 7Craighead County, AR | 45 | 34 | 7.7 | $813K | +4.8% | #1,113 of 1,792 |
| 8Crawford County, AR | 45 | 19 | 8.1 | $712K | +4.1% | #1,118 of 1,792 |
| 9Mississippi County, AR | 44 | 5 | 3.2 | $1.7M | −6.7% | #1,121 of 1,792 |
| 10White County, AR | 43 | 22 | 7.4 | $701K | +4.2% | #1,180 of 1,792 |
| 11Grant County, AR | 42 | 5 | 7.2 | $937K | +4.1% | #1,194 of 1,792 |
| 12Washington County, AR | 42 | 76 | 7.8 | $913K | +9.9% | #1,196 of 1,792 |
| 13Baxter County, AR | 40 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.1M | +3.1% | #1,232 of 1,792 |
| 14Pulaski County, AR | 38 | 132 | 7.7 | $885K | +1.3% | #1,299 of 1,792 |
| 15Pope County, AR | 36 | 21 | 8.6 | $670K | +2.5% | #1,366 of 1,792 |
| 16Boone County, AR | 36 | 14 | 9.1 | $581K | +3.3% | #1,367 of 1,792 |
| 17Logan County, AR | 35 | 5 | 5.9 | $963K | +2.5% | #1,383 of 1,792 |
| 18Cleburne County, AR | 35 | 6 | 5.7 | $923K | +3.9% | #1,387 of 1,792 |
| 19Greene County, AR | 34 | 11 | 6.1 | $888K | +3.4% | #1,409 of 1,792 |
| 20Sebastian County, AR | 33 | 44 | 8.4 | $703K | +2.2% | #1,434 of 1,792 |
| 21Johnson County, AR | 28 | 6 | 5.8 | $774K | +2.0% | #1,543 of 1,792 |
| 22Conway County, AR | 27 | 5 | 6.0 | $817K | +3.2% | #1,563 of 1,792 |
| 23Jefferson County, AR | 23 | 11 | 4.6 | $1.1M | −5.7% | #1,618 of 1,792 |
| 24Independence County, AR | 22 | 12 | 8.2 | $677K | +2.2% | #1,645 of 1,792 |
| 25Hot Spring County, AR | 21 | 8 | 6.5 | $787K | +1.1% | #1,656 of 1,792 |
Show all 75 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Crittenden County, AR | 19 | 10 | 5.5 | $945K | −3.9% | #1,673 of 1,792 |
| 27Union County, AR | 19 | 9 | 6.0 | $937K | −5.2% | #1,674 of 1,792 |
| 28Polk County, AR | 18 | 6 | 7.6 | $670K | +1.6% | #1,687 of 1,792 |
| 29Ouachita County, AR | 13 | 5 | 5.8 | $861K | −3.9% | #1,725 of 1,792 |
| 30Sevier County, AR | 10 | 6 | 10.7 | $460K | −0.1% | #1,749 of 1,792 |
| 31Lawrence County, AR | 10 | 9 | 13.6 | $364K | +0.3% | #1,751 of 1,792 |
| 32Columbia County, AR | 8 | 7 | 8.3 | $647K | −3.7% | #1,764 of 1,792 |
| 33Poinsett County, AR | 7 | 6 | 6.8 | $662K | −2.0% | #1,770 of 1,792 |
| Carroll County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 3.5 | $1.5M | +3.6% | |
| St. Francis County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $1.1M | −5.3% | |
| Clark County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $1.4M | −2.2% | |
| Yell County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $4.2M | −1.3% | |
| Hempstead County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $1.2M | −4.6% | |
| Randolph County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $1.2M | +1.5% | |
| Ashley County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $1M | −5.9% | |
| Sharp County, AR | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.1M | +4.7% | |
| Madison County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $1.8M | +11.2% | |
| Franklin County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 5.7 | $908K | +3.5% | |
| Marion County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $906K | +4.3% | |
| Drew County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 5.6 | $863K | −1.5% | |
| Jackson County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $738K | 0.0% | |
| Cross County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $907K | −3.6% | |
| Arkansas County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 6.0 | $847K | −7.4% | |
| Van Buren County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $849K | +2.8% | |
| Phillips County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $618K | −13.0% | |
| Clay County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $2.8M | −3.3% | |
| Izard County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $1.1M | +5.9% | |
| Lincoln County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 5.6 | $896K | −1.0% | |
| Howard County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $585K | −3.6% | |
| Stone County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $1.1M | +2.9% | |
| Fulton County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 8.4 | $503K | +3.7% | |
| Little River County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 8.3 | $654K | −1.8% | |
| Desha County, AR | Not scored | 4 | 8.7 | $482K | −11.8% | |
| Bradley County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 5.3 | $832K | −6.4% | |
| Pike County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 4.9 | $1M | −1.9% | |
| Perry County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $2.3M | +3.1% | |
| Scott County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $1.6M | +1.4% | |
| Chicot County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $868K | −10.3% | |
| Montgomery County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 5.4 | $949K | +1.1% | |
| Lee County, AR | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −6.4% | |
| Nevada County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 3.1 | $1.4M | −4.1% | |
| Prairie County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 3.1 | $1.6M | −3.9% | |
| Searcy County, AR | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | 0.0% | |
| Cleveland County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 3.4 | $1.6M | −4.3% | |
| Newton County, AR | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.3% | |
| Monroe County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 3.6 | $1.2M | −7.8% | |
| Dallas County, AR | Not scored | 1 | 3.9 | $1.1M | −6.7% | |
| Lafayette County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 7.6 | $547K | −6.4% | |
| Woodruff County, AR | Not scored | 2 | 7.4 | $666K | −8.2% | |
| Calhoun County, AR | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 gyms on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many gyms are in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 809 gyms on map listings as of September 2026. 186 of them (23%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms and fitness centers. Official counts show 257 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, up 8.0% from 2019. That count covers all fitness and recreational sports centers (yoga, Pilates and fitness studios included), not only gyms.
How much do households in Arkansas spend on memberships, classes and admissions?
About $743.6M a year, or $617 per household. That is 37% below the U.S. average (an index of 63, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 809 gyms on map listings, it comes to $919K per gym. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only gyms. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,205,987 households in Arkansas and national spending patterns by income.
How does Arkansas compare with the U.S. for gyms?
Arkansas has 6.7 gyms per 10,000 households, 12% below the U.S. rate of 7.6. Spending per gym is $919K, 29% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the national ratio of gyms to household spending, Arkansas would have about 572, against 809 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 4,693 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. The official count rose 8.0% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.8% for the U.S.
Which market in Arkansas has the highest market score for gyms?
Among 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Arkansas, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area scores highest, at 46 (lower middle). Among 12 scored small-town markets in or partly in Arkansas, the Searcy area scores highest, at 47 (lower middle). Among 33 scored counties in Arkansas, Lonoke County scores highest, at 65 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
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. 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. Arkansas scores 40 for gyms (lower middle), #41 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Arkansas. It maps the gyms 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.
Gyms in other states
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Top markets for gyms across the U.S. · All business types in Arkansas
Related business types in Arkansas
- Gyms, studios and classes1,409 listings
- Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios129 listings
- Martial arts and dance studios471 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Arkansas?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
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.