Arkansas at a Glance
Known to some as the home of former President Bill Clinton, and to others as simply "The Natural State", Arkansas is the hidden gem of Mid-America. Arkansas sports a great deal of nature-oriented tourism, whether that tourism centers around fishing and hunting, or hiking and canoeing. Other attractions include Crystal Bridges, founded by Walmart heir Alice Walton (who received a Smithsonian award for her work on behalf of the museum); Mid-America Science Museum and Magic Springs theme park in Hot Springs; the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock; and the country's only diamond mine in Murfreesboro, AR. Living in Arkansas provides a low cost of living, better-than-average safety and education, and excellent access to hiking trails, swimming, and other outdoor activities.
Top Cities in Arkansas
Why You'll Love Living in Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas has one of the fastest-growing metros in the nation. This growth started because of the natural beauty of the Arkansas Ozarks, the low crime rate, above-average public schools, and the low-cost full research university, the University of Arkansas. Population growth continues because of these reasons, but also because of a stable and expending economy. In 2012, retail giant Walmart required its 1300 vendors and other partners to establish offices in the region. This led to the direct creation of 5,800 jobs, and the indirect creation of many more. The region is home to companies such as Walmart, JB Hunt, and Tyson Foods. Employment in the region includes everything from project management and marketing support for Walmart (and the 1,300 vendors that work with that company), to organic farming, to construction, to food service. Average salaries in the Bentonville/Rogers region are competitive with major metro areas, while real estate costs are well below the national average.
Just south of Bentonville is the city of Fayetteville, "The Portland of Arkansas". Fayetteville was recently awarded "#3 Place to Live in the United States," topped only by Denver, CO and Austin TX. The Fayetteville/Bentonville metro comprises just over 500,000 people--big enough so that you can find whatever you want, small and spread out enough that you'll never feel crowded. Homes include Victorian-style dwellings from the turn of the last century, as well as newer suburban homes and stylish apartments. The metro sports plenty of walking, running, and bike trails via the region's 36-mile Greenway. Lakes, national forests (such as Ozark Natural Forest, Mark Twain National Forest, and Devil's Den State Park) provide fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking activity for many of the state's residents. Arkansas also receives a good number of out-of-state residents for its natural tourism. Real estate prices are very competitive compared to other metro areas, and you can find some very good deals when you drive a few miles out of town.
Central Arkansas is attractive for many of the same reasons as the northwest part of the state: Natural beauty, an economy better than the national average, and low cost of living. There are a number of highly-rated school districts in the area, as well as a handful of good private schools. This urban area isn't overly urbanized: The Central Arkansas metropolitan area stretches not-quite 1,000,000 people across ten counties. Real estate prices all over the Central Arkansas region are well below the national average (although there are neighborhoods where you can easily spend 250,000-500,000 or more on a home), especially in rural areas.
The economy here not quite as elevated as Northwest Arkansas, but it is still robust and stable. Not to mention, the cost of living is one of the least expensive in the country. Employment here is available for every range of education and job experience level. Major corporations headquartered here include Dillards, Windstream Communication, and Acxiom. Like Northwest Arkansas, much of the area has grown at an increased pace over the past 15 years. This is especially true for Conway, a former college town that is now a major municipality in its own right, and one of the fastest-growing places in the state. As with the rest of Central Arkansas, real estate (both homes and raw acreage) costs are well below the national average here.
