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What do 500,000 Arkansas retirees know that the rest of America does not? HomeSnacks knows.
Yes, we've done the unthinkable and created a list of the top ten best places to retire in Arkansas for 2023 and listed them below. There are a couple of things, however, that you should know before scrolling down to our list, so we suggest you get comfortable and keep reading.
First up, we obtained the data for our list by looking at the latest FBI and Census reports for 35 Arkansas cities with 10,000 residents. We then looked at how safe, affordable, and the proximity of each place to an international airport.
We discovered that Arkansas is safe and affordable; but sadly, you're going to be out of luck if you're looking to live close to an international airport: there are none. But, the state does have seven passenger airports ready to connect you to your family and friends when you need a break from retirement life. But, you really shouldn't need a break from The Natural State because there's 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.
So, want to know where you can live out your best years in Arkansas? Keep reading, you're almost there.
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arkansas For 2023
Why did Harrison take the top spot? And where are Little Rock and Fayetteville?
When you choose to live in one of Arkansas' best places to retire, you are choosing to live where your dollar will go the furthest, where your safety is a priority, and where you will have the most fun. And word on the street, parking is easy in these places and there are a ton of drive-up pharmacies.
So, where is the best place to retire in Arkansas? According to the latest data, Harrison is the best place to retire in Arkansas for 2023.
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.
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 2023
/10
Population: 13,081
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Rent: $637
Distance to Closest Airport: 154 miles
More on Harrison: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 13,559
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Median Rent: $676
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Blytheville: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 12,722
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 1)
Median Rent: $733
Distance to Closest Airport: 138 miles
More on Mountain Home: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 11,117
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Rent: $706
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Batesville: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 10,644
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Rent: $585
Distance to Closest Airport: 155 miles
More on Camden: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 23,213
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Median Rent: $751
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Van Buren: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 29,327
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 1)
Median Rent: $763
Distance to Closest Airport: 32 miles
More on Paragould: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 10,626
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 2)
Median Rent: $647
Distance to Closest Airport: 167 miles
More on Malvern: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 10,332
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Rent: $633
Distance to Closest Airport: 187 miles
More on Arkadelphia: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 23,074
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 3)
Median Rent: $733
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Searcy: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Natural State for 2023
To create our list of the best places in Arkansas to retire, we first used 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 35 places from across the state.
For these 35, 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 criteria from one to 35, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Harrison, with the lowest average rank was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second careers. You can download the data here.
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 Harrison.
If you're not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Jacksonville
- North Little Rock
- Fayetteville
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Where Are The Best Places To Retire In Arkansas?
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrison | 13,081 |
| 2 | Blytheville | 13,559 |
| 3 | Mountain Home | 12,722 |
| 4 | Batesville | 11,117 |
| 5 | Camden | 10,644 |
| 6 | Van Buren | 23,213 |
| 7 | Paragould | 29,327 |
| 8 | Malvern | 10,626 |
| 9 | Arkadelphia | 10,332 |
| 10 | Searcy | 23,074 |
