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 2026 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 2026
Where is the best place to retire in Arkansas? According to the latest data, Blytheville is the best place to retire in Arkansas for 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 12,790
Median Income: $47,865
Median Home Price: $96,160
Median Rent: $855
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Blytheville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,350
Median Income: $44,056
Median Home Price: $230,381
Median Rent: $753
Distance to Closest Airport: 154 miles
More on Harrison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,763
Median Income: $61,149
Median Home Price: $204,826
Median Rent: $847
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Van Buren: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,108
Median Income: $41,274
Median Home Price: $233,820
Median Rent: $865
Distance to Closest Airport: 138 miles
More on Mountain Home: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,953
Median Income: $46,250
Median Home Price: $142,161
Median Rent: $764
Distance to Closest Airport: 167 miles
More on Malvern: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,445
Median Income: $51,856
Median Home Price: $176,298
Median Rent: $882
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Batesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 30,215
Median Income: $56,980
Median Home Price: $191,096
Median Rent: $925
Distance to Closest Airport: 32 miles
More on Paragould: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,307
Median Income: $49,361
Median Home Price: $105,164
Median Rent: $768
Distance to Closest Airport: 155 miles
More on Camden: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,340
Median Income: $52,170
Median Home Price: $216,679
Median Rent: $905
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Searcy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 39,743
Median Income: $42,718
Median Home Price: $75,017
Median Rent: $855
Distance to Closest Airport: 129 miles
More on Pine Bluff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Natural State for 2026
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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Van Buren, Mountain Home, Malvern, Batesville, Paragould, 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
- Little Rock
- Conway
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blytheville | 12,790 | $47,865 | $96,160 | $855 |
| 2 | Harrison | 13,350 | $44,056 | $230,381 | $753 |
| 3 | Van Buren | 23,763 | $61,149 | $204,826 | $847 |
| 4 | Mountain Home | 13,108 | $41,274 | $233,820 | $865 |
| 5 | Malvern | 10,953 | $46,250 | $142,161 | $764 |
| 6 | Batesville | 11,445 | $51,856 | $176,298 | $882 |
| 7 | Paragould | 30,215 | $56,980 | $191,096 | $925 |
| 8 | Camden | 10,307 | $49,361 | $105,164 | $768 |
| 9 | Searcy | 23,340 | $52,170 | $216,679 | $905 |
| 10 | Pine Bluff | 39,743 | $42,718 | $75,017 | $855 |