What do 500,000 Arkansas retirees know that the rest of America does not? You can find a great place to retire in the Natural State.
We created a list of the top ten best places to retire in Arkansas for 2024 and listed them below. We obtained the data for our list by looking at the latest FBI and Census reports for 36 Arkansas cities with 10,000 residents. We then compared them on safety, affordability, and things to do in retirement.
We discovered that Arkansas is safe and affordable. The Natural State has a ton of stuff to do. Like, taking a Lake of the Ozarks dinner cruise on the Belle of the Ozarks or playing a round at Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville.
And if you do start to get bored, you can always be a greeter at Walmart. Bentonville is, after all, the birthplace of the big box store.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arkansas For 2024
Where is the best place to retire in Arkansas? According to the latest data, Blytheville is the best place to retire in Arkansas for 2024.
So, want to know where you can live out your best years in Arkansas? Keep reading. You’re almost there.
Why did Blytheville take the top spot? And where are Little Rock and Fayetteville?
For more Arkansas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arkansas For 2024
/10
Population: 13,276
Median Income: $45,746
Median Home Price: $73,259
Median Rent: $758
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Blytheville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,154
Median Income: $39,677
Median Home Price: $208,474
Median Rent: $677
Distance to Closest Airport: 154 miles
More on Harrison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,876
Median Income: $42,281
Median Home Price: $215,052
Median Rent: $799
Distance to Closest Airport: 138 miles
More on Mountain Home: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,163
Median Income: $52,304
Median Home Price: $153,111
Median Rent: $757
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Batesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,398
Median Income: $56,493
Median Home Price: $182,864
Median Rent: $794
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Van Buren: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,859
Median Income: $37,210
Median Home Price: $126,080
Median Rent: $712
Distance to Closest Airport: 167 miles
More on Malvern: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,690
Median Income: $54,732
Median Home Price: $178,485
Median Rent: $846
Distance to Closest Airport: 32 miles
More on Paragould: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,587
Median Income: $48,302
Median Home Price: $95,543
Median Rent: $704
Distance to Closest Airport: 155 miles
More on Camden: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,354
Median Income: $37,634
Median Home Price: $162,200
Median Rent: $695
Distance to Closest Airport: 187 miles
More on Arkadelphia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,961
Median Income: $45,588
Median Home Price: $196,057
Median Rent: $821
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Searcy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Natural State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Arkansas to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Natural State — 538 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 36 places from across the state.
For these 36, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 36, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Blytheville, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Arkansas.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Arkansas Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Arkansas goes to Blytheville.
The best places to retire in Arkansas are Blytheville, Harrison, Mountain Home, Batesville, Van Buren, Malvern, Paragould, Camden, Arkadelphia, and Searcy.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Jacksonville
- North Little Rock
- Little Rock
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blytheville | 13,276 | $45,746 | $73,259 | $758 |
| 2 | Harrison | 13,154 | $39,677 | $208,474 | $677 |
| 3 | Mountain Home | 12,876 | $42,281 | $215,052 | $799 |
| 4 | Batesville | 11,163 | $52,304 | $153,111 | $757 |
| 5 | Van Buren | 23,398 | $56,493 | $182,864 | $794 |
| 6 | Malvern | 10,859 | $37,210 | $126,080 | $712 |
| 7 | Paragould | 29,690 | $54,732 | $178,485 | $846 |
| 8 | Camden | 10,587 | $48,302 | $95,543 | $704 |
| 9 | Arkadelphia | 10,354 | $37,634 | $162,200 | $695 |
| 10 | Searcy | 22,961 | $45,588 | $196,057 | $821 |