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 2025 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 2025
Where is the best place to retire in Arkansas? According to the latest data, Blytheville is the best place to retire in Arkansas for 2025.
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 2025
/10
Population: 13,026
Median Income: $49,928
Median Home Price: $101,200
Median Rent: $789
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Blytheville: Data
/10
Population: 13,217
Median Income: $40,568
Median Home Price: $165,000
Median Rent: $703
Distance to Closest Airport: 154 miles
More on Harrison: Data
/10
Population: 11,385
Median Income: $54,424
Median Home Price: $159,200
Median Rent: $821
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Batesville: Data
/10
Population: 23,545
Median Income: $59,420
Median Home Price: $178,000
Median Rent: $820
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Van Buren: Data
/10
Population: 13,021
Median Income: $42,103
Median Home Price: $160,200
Median Rent: $857
Distance to Closest Airport: 138 miles
More on Mountain Home: Data
/10
Population: 29,940
Median Income: $56,181
Median Home Price: $175,400
Median Rent: $883
Distance to Closest Airport: 32 miles
More on Paragould: Data
/10
Population: 10,938
Median Income: $40,602
Median Home Price: $95,500
Median Rent: $760
Distance to Closest Airport: 167 miles
More on Malvern: Data
/10
Population: 10,427
Median Income: $51,300
Median Home Price: $108,800
Median Rent: $704
Distance to Closest Airport: 155 miles
More on Camden: Data
/10
Population: 23,115
Median Income: $50,896
Median Home Price: $176,200
Median Rent: $849
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Searcy: Data
/10
Population: 40,436
Median Income: $41,250
Median Home Price: $86,400
Median Rent: $831
Distance to Closest Airport: 129 miles
More on Pine Bluff: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Natural State for 2025
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 2025. 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, Batesville, Van Buren, Mountain Home, Paragould, Malvern, Camden, Searcy, and Pine Bluff.
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 | 13,026 | $49,928 | $101,200 | $789 |
| 2 | Harrison | 13,217 | $40,568 | $165,000 | $703 |
| 3 | Batesville | 11,385 | $54,424 | $159,200 | $821 |
| 4 | Van Buren | 23,545 | $59,420 | $178,000 | $820 |
| 5 | Mountain Home | 13,021 | $42,103 | $160,200 | $857 |
| 6 | Paragould | 29,940 | $56,181 | $175,400 | $883 |
| 7 | Malvern | 10,938 | $40,602 | $95,500 | $760 |
| 8 | Camden | 10,427 | $51,300 | $108,800 | $704 |
| 9 | Searcy | 23,115 | $50,896 | $176,200 | $849 |
| 10 | Pine Bluff | 40,436 | $41,250 | $86,400 | $831 |