Hey y’all there’s some pretty awesome family friendly places to live in Arkansas! And, lucky for you, we have them listed right here. Where are the most family friendly places in the The Natural State? You’re going to have to take a look below at HomeSnacks list of the best places to raise your family in Arkansas for 2024 to find out.
But first, we need to tell you how we determined the most family friendly places in Arkansas. We consulted the US Census on places in The Bear State with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 36 family friendly Arkansas places that any family would be lucky to call home.
Why’d we do it? For many reasons. One, we wouldn’t want any family to miss out on Fort Smith’s family friendly Riverfront Blues Festival each year. Two, the state has 31 Blue Ribbon schools and some of them can be found in Arkansas’ most family friendly places. And three, we wouldn’t want your family to get stuck in one of Arkansas’ most dangerous places-that would be ‘no bueno’! Speaking of family friendly entertainment, we think the best family day in this southern paradise would go something like this: first, a trip to the Crossett’s Crossland Zoo; then, a visit to the Altitude Trampoline Park in Little Rock.
So, want to see a list of Arkansas’ best places to raise a family? Read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Arkansas For 2024
There might be some surprises on this list, but when you look at the unbiased data, it’s hard to argue against the numbers. We’ve had more than ten million people read our published articles and we’ve been featured in hundreds of media outlets for our best of the best rankings, including this Alabama Democrat Gazette feature. So, yes, we know what we’re talking about.
What city is the best place to raise a family in Arkansas? Well according to the US Census Bentonville is the best of the best if you care about a good education, low crime, and a high quality of life. And we’re pretty sure that you do.
To see how your favorite places in Arkansas compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Arkansas and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas For 2024
/10
Population: 54,513
Median Income: $99,074
Average Home Price: $438,707
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 71
Closest Major City: Tulsa
Households with kids: 40.1%
More on Bentonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,354
Median Income: $37,634
Average Home Price: $162,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 38
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 22.4%
More on Arkadelphia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,183
Median Income: $89,880
Average Home Price: $293,632
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 38
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 33.7%
More on Maumelle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,632
Median Income: $59,911
Average Home Price: $262,203
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Tulsa
Households with kids: 43.3%
More on Siloam Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,655
Median Income: $104,464
Average Home Price: $321,706
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 30
Closest Major City: Tulsa
Households with kids: 47.2%
More on Centerton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 35,318
Median Income: $66,868
Average Home Price: $223,530
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 35.2%
More on Benton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 65,159
Median Income: $54,036
Average Home Price: $233,335
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 66
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 28.7%
More on Conway: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,750
Median Income: $76,282
Average Home Price: $237,351
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 39.4%
More on Bryant: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 69,961
Median Income: $78,075
Average Home Price: $333,982
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Tulsa
Households with kids: 40.3%
More on Rogers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,961
Median Income: $45,588
Average Home Price: $196,057
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 71
Closest Major City: Little Rock
Households with kids: 31.1%
More on Searcy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Arkansas anyways?
To give you the places in Arkansas that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Arkansas, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Arkansas, that meant a total of 36 cities.
We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Arkansas.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Arkansas ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Arkansas are Bentonville, Arkadelphia, Maumelle, Siloam Springs, Centerton, Benton, Conway, Bryant, Rogers, and Searcy.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Arkansas according to the data:
- Texarkana
- El Dorado
- Jacksonville
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bentonville, AR | 54,513 | $99,074 | $438,707 | 66 |
| 2 | Arkadelphia, AR | 10,354 | $37,634 | $162,200 | 46 |
| 3 | Maumelle, AR | 19,183 | $89,880 | $293,632 | 53 |
| 4 | Siloam Springs, AR | 17,632 | $59,911 | $262,203 | 45 |
| 5 | Centerton, AR | 18,655 | $104,464 | $321,706 | 44 |
| 6 | Benton, AR | 35,318 | $66,868 | $223,530 | 61 |
| 7 | Conway, AR | 65,159 | $54,036 | $233,335 | 69 |
| 8 | Bryant, AR | 20,750 | $76,282 | $237,351 | 34 |
| 9 | Rogers, AR | 69,961 | $78,075 | $333,982 | 64 |
| 10 | Searcy, AR | 22,961 | $45,588 | $196,057 | 71 |