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Homes For Sale In Arkansas
Arkansas is a state in the U.S.A. known as The Natural State for its breathtaking views and picturesque waterfalls. If you love the outdoors and are looking for a low cost of living, and a great quality of life, Arkansas may be the perfect place for you. Arkansas was even ranked 10th by United Van Lines as one of the best places to move in 2020! So if you’re looking at homes for sale in Bentonville, Cave Springs, or anywhere else in the state, continue reading to find out more about what makes Arkansas homes for sale a great buy.
Arkansas Real Estate Market
Arkansas is like a hidden gem. It’s an affordable place to live as Arkansas was ranked the 3rd lowest cost of living according to the US World News & Reports. It’s also not crowded here, so there’s not much traffic. In fact, the biggest city is Little Rock with a population of about 200,000 people and there are only 10 cities in the entire state with a population of over 50,000 people.
Houses for sale in Arkansas appeal to retirees and especially those retiring from the military because the state offers a Military Retirement Income Tax Cut, which eliminates state income tax for the military. Property taxes for homes in Arkansas are also extremely low, which is more due to the lower than average prices of homes for sale than due to their actual tax rate.
Arkansas flies under the radar of many people looking to move to a different state. Though the Arkansas real estate market has risen, it’s not as competitive as other U.S. markets, which has helped keep the cost of buying a home down. The average listing price of Arkansas homes for sale is around $249K.
Half of all Arkansas homes for sale were built between 1970 to 2000. Over 23% were built since then and about 20% were constructed pre-1970s. Single-family homes dominate the market and consist primarily of three bedrooms, though two-bedroom homes are popular too. Mobile homes are common, making up about 12% of the market, and can be found sprinkled throughout the state. Arkansas Condos and townhomes are rare but can still be found in some of the bigger cities.
Major Cities in Arkansas
Arkansas comprises five different areas or sections. Here is how they’re split up and some of the major cities or towns in those areas.
Northwest Arkansas
- Fayetteville- This is a fairly large city for Arkansas, in Washington County, with a population of around 79,000 people. Fayetteville, AR is the entertainment capital of the area and is home to the University of Arkansas.
- Bentonville- The birthplace and home base of the superstore chain, Walmart! Bentonville has a population of around 40,000 people and it is the county seat for Benton County. It’s also one of the best places to live in Arkansas, with its low crime rates, great public schools, and people tend to get more for their money when buying property in Bentonville!
- Fort Smith- With a population of about 88,000 people, Fort Smith is a relatively large city in Sebastian County. Fort Smith attracts families and young professionals who aim to own their own homes and has excellent public schools.
North Central Arkansas
- Heber Springs- Located in Cleburne County, Heber Springs is a smaller town with a population of about 7,000 people. There’s a slightly suburban feel here, but it’s not very dense. Heber Springs attracts an interesting mix of retirees and young professionals, and it also has great public schools.
- Mountain Home- Located in Baxter County, Mountain Home has a population of around 19,000 people. This city has a suburban feel. It’s a popular town to settle for retirees but also has above average public schools too.
- Mountain View- A town in Stone County with a population of around 3,000 people, Mountain View is another popular town for retirees, but also families as it has great public schools.
Upper Delta
- Jonesboro- Located in Craighead County, Jonesboro has a larger population of around 76,000 people. This city is a great place to spend time outdoors and attracts families and young professionals as there are a lot of parks here and the public schools are good.
- West Memphis- Located just west of Memphis, TN and the Mississippi River in West Memphis, AR in Crittenden County. West Memphis has a population of around 25,000 people and has a suburban feel with many families residing here.
- Paragould- Located in Greene County, Paragould has a population of around 29,000 people. With a slightly suburban feel and above-average public schools, Paragould attracts families who strive for homeownership.
Central Arkansas
- Little Rock- Located in Pulaski County, with a population of around 196,000 people, Little Rock is the state capital of Arkansas. There are lots of job opportunities here and great public schools, which attracts people from all walks of life.
- North Little Rock- Located just North of Little Rock in Pulaski County, North Little Rock has a fairly large population of around 66,000 people. The area is dense, but the city offers a lot of parks and attracts a lot of families and young professionals.
- Conway- Located in Faulkner County, Conway has a population of around 66,000 people and is a sought-after place to live in Arkansas. Many families and young professionals reside here as there are numerous parks, great public schools, and several colleges.
Southwest Arkansas
- Hot Springs- Located in Garland County, Hot Springs is a town in Arkansas with a population of around 39,000 people. This town has a dense suburban feel that attracts families and young professionals striving for homeownership and has high-rated public schools. Hot Springs is also a tourist town, which attracts many visitors because of its natural hot springs and bath houses.
- Texarkana- Located on the Texas and Arkansas border, in Miller County, Texarkana is a popular place for families and has a population of around 30,000 people. Homeownership is high and the public schools are above average here.
- El Dorado- Located in Union County, El Dorado has a population of around 18,000 people. This town has somewhat of a suburban feel, though homes and buildings are more spread out. El Dorado attracts families and young professionals and the public schools are great here.
Lower Delta
- Pine Bluff- Located in Jefferson County, Pine Bluff has a population just over 43,000 people. Pine Bluff has a suburban feel, which attracts families who tend to own their homes.
- Stuttgart- Located in Arkansas County, Stuttgart is a town in Arkansas with a population of almost 9,000 people. Many families who own their homes have settled in Stuttgart, giving the town a slightly suburban feel.
Arkansas Schools
Arkansas has several grade schools and colleges offering opportunities for children and adults to get an education. Here are some of the largest colleges and universities in Arkansas:
- University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
- Arkansas State University (Main Campus) (Jonesboro, AR)
- Arkansas Tech University (Russellville, AR)
- University of Central Arkansas (Conway, AR)
Best School Districts in Arkansas
Arkansas offers school choice. What this means is that parents get to choose which schools best support their children. Some of the top-performing school districts in Arkansas:
- Greenwood Public Schools- Located in Sebastian County, Greenwood Public Schools is not only one of the top districts in Arkansas but was voted the #1 district for teachers by Niche. It’s also a purple star district for its support for military students and families. It also boasts state-of-the-art medical training facilities for students striving to earn an Emergency Responder Certification. There are about 3,800 students enrolled at Greenwood Public Schools across seven schools ranging from preschool to high school.
- Bentonville School District- This district covers over 142 square miles, which consists of most of Bentonville, and parts of Bella Vista, Cave Springs, Centerton, Highfill, Little Flock, and Rogers. Bentonville School District has been in operation for over 150 years and is one of Arkansas’ top school districts. Over 17,800 students are enrolled at Bentonville Schools across 29 schools ranging from pre-K through high school, which includes a virtual school and a professional studies school.
- Gravette School District- Located in Benton County, Gravette School District is recognized for its High Growth scores on the ACT Aspire in both math and overall scores in 2021. There are just over 1,900 students enrolled in Gravette Schools across five schools, including a career center.
FAQ About Homes For Sale In Arkansas
Where are the commercial airports in Arkansas?
- The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) is located on the east side of Little Rock, AR.
- Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) is located south/southwest of Centerton and Bentonville, AR.
What major landmarks/attractions are a must-see in Arkansas?
- Hot Springs National Park- Nicknamed, America’s Spa, Hot Springs National Park is a natural anomaly with 45 different hot springs to explore. They’re actually too hot to take a dip in as they’re all hotter than 140°F but are still fun to enjoy.
- Thorncrown Chapel- Located in Eureka Springs, Thorncrown Chapel is a stunning religious building and was constructed in 1980. This beautiful masterpiece is tucked neatly in the woods of Arkansas. This is an ideal place for weddings and special events, but is also available to visit for free!
- Crater of Diamonds State Park- What was once a volcanic crater is now the only place in the world where the public can dig for their own diamonds. This 37.5-acre site is available for people to come to dig in hopes of finding diamonds and semi-precious stones that were produced by the volcano.
Where is the best place to live in Arkansas?
Cave Springs and Bentonville are a couple of the best places to live in Arkansas for their great housing options, excellent public schools, and the overall safety of the areas.
Living In Arkansas
Arkansas Weather
An interesting fact about Arkansas is that this state experiences all four seasons, which makes for great outdoor activities any time of year! Springtime brings storms, but also produces beautiful flowers and fresh greenery. During the summer it gets up to the 90s and people usually head to the lakes and rivers to cool off. Fall displays beautiful colors as the leaves change. The high temperature in the winter usually hangs around the 50s, but dips below freezing from time to time, leading to occasional snow.
Hospitals in Arkansas
There are several major hospitals peppered throughout Arkansas, but the highest concentration of them are in Central Arkansas. Some of the top hospitals are:
Washington Regional Medical Center
- Fayetteville, AR
Baptist Health Medical Center- Little Rock
- Little Rock, AR
UAMS Medical Center
- Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Jobs
Arkansas’ job sectors have evolved over the years. It was once a popular palace for fur trading and agriculture, with an emphasis on cotton, but today only three percent of the population is in the agriculture industry. Though the percentage of the population seems low, Arkansas is still the top producer of broilers, turkey, and rice and is a high producer of cotton, catfish, and pullets. Timber production is efficient here and is the fourth-highest state in producing soft timber. Eastern Arkansas has become a hub in the auto industry for manufacturing vehicle parts.
Transportation in Arkansas
Hands down, the best way to get around Arkansas is by driving your own vehicle. In some of the bigger cities, you’ll see people walking or riding a bike, but even then most people prefer to drive. The good news about Arkansas is that the average commute time is about 18 minutes, which is a short time compared to other states and metro areas.
Fun Facts About Arkansas
- Disney’s Tuck Everlasting filmed its opening scene at Hawksbill Crag in the Buffalo River, which is a popular place to go hiking.
- Arkansas got its name from the Quapaw Indians, also known as Arkansaw, meaning “people who live downstream.”
- Stuttgart hosts the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest every year.
- Hattie Caraway was elected senator in Arkansas in November 1932, which made her the first woman in the U.S. Senate!
- Arkansas has over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of rivers and streams, giving good reason for being dubbed The Natural State.