You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Arkansas. Best suburbs in Arkansas. Best counties in Arkansas.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Natural State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Arkansas based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Arkansas ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
$95,844 median income · 1.2% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$73,696 median income · 1.1% unemployment
$85,758 median income · 0.8% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$69,779 median income · 1.6% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$113,764 median income · 1.9% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$73,750 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$63,500 median income · 3.0% unemployment
$80,924 median income · 3.0% unemployment
$111,667 median income · 2.3% unemployment
$68,214 median income · 3.5% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Arkansas’s statewide median.
Arkansas statewide median: $60,773
Arkansas statewide median: $222,050
On the map
Where Arkansas’s best small towns are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Arkansas
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Arkansas possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 144 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 144, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Arkansas. Top of that list — Johnson.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Arkansas.
The full plate
Best Small Towns In Arkansas
Click any column to sort. Search by town name.
| Rank | Town | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson | 3,656 | $95,844 | $344,377 | 1.2% |
| 2 | Lake Hamilton | 2,127 | $73,696 | $479,416 | 1.1% |
| 3 | Haskell | 4,100 | $85,758 | $204,703 | 0.8% |
| 4 | Gentry | 4,240 | $69,779 | $300,462 | 1.6% |
| 5 | Austin | 3,915 | $113,764 | $246,225 | 1.9% |
| 6 | Salem | 2,642 | $73,750 | $165,121 | 0.0% |
| 7 | Rockwell | 3,986 | $63,500 | $342,288 | 3.0% |
| 8 | Lavaca | 2,489 | $80,924 | $202,469 | 3.0% |
| 9 | Wooster | 1,023 | $111,667 | $393,312 | 2.3% |
| 10 | Gravette | 3,714 | $68,214 | $359,473 | 3.5% |
| 11 | Goshen | 2,298 | $150,074 | $731,476 | 2.1% |
| 12 | Avilla | 1,833 | $106,290 | $428,982 | 0.0% |
| 13 | Elm Springs | 3,069 | $131,739 | $628,095 | 1.8% |
| 14 | Wilson | 1,023 | $78,646 | $171,616 | 4.6% |
| 15 | Roland | 1,147 | $175,125 | $402,525 | 2.7% |
| 16 | Elkins | 3,808 | $81,789 | $283,053 | 0.0% |
| 17 | Shannon Hills | 4,641 | $71,318 | $195,279 | 4.4% |
| 18 | Pottsville | 3,229 | $68,558 | $219,780 | 2.2% |
| 19 | Vilonia | 4,498 | $81,815 | $259,295 | 3.8% |
| 20 | West Fork | 3,095 | $77,566 | $305,938 | 3.5% |
| 21 | Redfield | 1,734 | $71,696 | $190,718 | 3.0% |
| 22 | Oak Grove Heights | 1,164 | $82,292 | $191,179 | 0.9% |
| 23 | Mayflower | 2,861 | $75,682 | $214,991 | 4.4% |
| 24 | Highfill | 2,191 | $92,596 | $323,981 | 0.7% |
| 25 | East Camden | 1,026 | $37,500 | $130,395 | 4.5% |
| 26 | Greenland | 1,274 | $69,821 | $269,295 | 3.7% |
| 27 | Sulphur Rock | 1,014 | $96,429 | $192,379 | 0.9% |
| 28 | Little Flock | 3,056 | $60,878 | $506,934 | 7.1% |
| 29 | Cedarville | 1,760 | $59,740 | $252,242 | 1.7% |
| 30 | Higginson | 1,055 | $76,957 | $155,908 | 4.0% |
| 31 | Dardanelle | 4,511 | $51,040 | $177,697 | 3.5% |
| 32 | Corning | 3,134 | $50,408 | $96,846 | 2.1% |
| 33 | Charleston | 2,646 | $56,600 | $196,116 | 1.6% |
| 34 | Marmaduke | 1,240 | $51,250 | $165,834 | 0.9% |
| 35 | Prairie Creek | 2,493 | $93,391 | $499,967 | 8.0% |
| 36 | Atkins | 2,877 | $61,908 | $169,883 | 3.2% |
| 37 | Green Forest | 3,112 | $49,918 | $204,752 | 3.9% |
| 38 | Hazen | 1,874 | $49,225 | $158,742 | 1.5% |
| 39 | Lamar | 1,783 | $50,568 | $197,892 | 1.8% |
| 40 | London | 1,217 | $49,688 | $209,299 | 2.1% |
| 41 | Cotter | 1,063 | $35,792 | $239,981 | 1.2% |
| 42 | Gibson | 4,167 | $66,496 | $186,380 | 11.3% |
| 43 | Dyer | 1,049 | $94,327 | $272,011 | 3.5% |
| 44 | Bay | 2,333 | $59,769 | $136,792 | 2.1% |
| 45 | Murfreesboro | 1,819 | $53,264 | $161,492 | 3.7% |
| 46 | Mountain View | 2,913 | $29,172 | $213,234 | 0.0% |
| 47 | Gosnell | 2,778 | $61,130 | $116,576 | 2.3% |
| 48 | Brookland | 4,377 | $57,308 | $225,385 | 5.5% |
| 49 | Manila | 3,691 | $55,792 | $201,369 | 1.9% |
| 50 | Leachville | 1,852 | $51,406 | $132,049 | 0.7% |
| 51 | Lincoln | 2,794 | $68,333 | $255,824 | 3.1% |
| 52 | Flippin | 1,334 | $43,555 | $233,344 | 6.7% |
| 53 | Rector | 1,750 | $47,760 | $129,414 | 4.1% |
| 54 | Lake City | 2,531 | $60,273 | $162,715 | 7.0% |
| 55 | Judsonia | 2,052 | $43,279 | $182,288 | 3.0% |
| 56 | Plumerville | 1,128 | $42,552 | $158,688 | 0.0% |
| 57 | Prescott | 3,032 | $48,307 | $97,324 | 0.0% |
| 58 | Bono | 2,657 | $56,098 | $203,648 | 10.8% |
| 59 | Fairfield Bay | 2,515 | $56,594 | $142,903 | 4.0% |
| 60 | Paris | 3,284 | $51,416 | $147,860 | 5.0% |
| 61 | Perryville | 1,390 | $57,400 | $163,107 | 1.3% |
| 62 | Huntsville | 3,202 | $57,813 | $259,504 | 3.3% |
| 63 | Star City | 2,405 | $51,051 | $137,846 | 3.3% |
| 64 | Lake Village | 2,144 | $41,434 | $177,332 | 10.5% |
| 65 | Bald Knob | 2,518 | $48,355 | $160,960 | 6.5% |
| 66 | Smackover | 2,419 | $55,995 | $112,741 | 7.4% |
| 67 | Cave City | 2,090 | $49,800 | $170,659 | 4.7% |
| 68 | Gurdon | 1,625 | $47,587 | $131,813 | 5.6% |
| 69 | Alexander | 3,587 | $57,250 | $278,483 | 5.2% |
| 70 | Lonoke | 4,267 | $47,524 | $209,535 | 15.8% |
| 71 | Wrightsville | 1,484 | $45,417 | $74,292 | 1.5% |
| 72 | Nashville | 4,063 | $41,142 | $178,169 | 6.9% |
| 73 | McCrory | 1,850 | $43,516 | $105,592 | 3.4% |
| 74 | Clinton | 2,509 | $42,946 | $175,607 | 0.0% |
| 75 | Ashdown | 4,164 | $55,625 | $152,713 | 10.2% |
| 76 | Yellville | 1,223 | $37,813 | $210,726 | 6.2% |
| 77 | Gassville | 1,850 | $38,750 | $195,481 | 8.4% |
| 78 | Ash Flat | 1,217 | $41,667 | $162,383 | 4.6% |
| 79 | Crossett | 4,639 | $44,672 | $80,989 | 5.3% |
| 80 | Midway | 1,279 | $30,750 | $207,591 | 0.0% |
| 81 | Piney | 4,458 | $50,901 | $158,742 | 9.2% |
| 82 | Rison | 1,019 | $35,855 | $167,440 | 2.5% |
| 83 | Eureka Springs | 2,433 | $38,425 | $313,332 | 3.3% |
| 84 | England | 2,294 | $46,544 | $118,139 | 2.4% |
| 85 | Kibler | 1,085 | $58,500 | $248,153 | 3.6% |
| 86 | Monette | 1,251 | $54,167 | $148,388 | 9.9% |
| 87 | Danville | 2,289 | $64,420 | $144,923 | 7.3% |
| 88 | Mineral Springs | 1,358 | $52,031 | $129,832 | 3.4% |
| 89 | Decatur | 1,567 | $45,179 | $276,183 | 5.2% |
| 90 | Dover | 1,795 | $32,332 | $216,339 | 2.6% |
| 91 | Mount Ida | 1,376 | $37,045 | $237,623 | 6.7% |
| 92 | Bull Shoals | 1,678 | $41,976 | $203,301 | 12.9% |
| 93 | Hackett | 1,118 | $44,081 | $205,329 | 4.6% |
| 94 | Mulberry | 1,646 | $50,428 | $181,998 | 0.0% |
| 95 | Landmark | 3,948 | $53,788 | $184,963 | 2.8% |
| 96 | Norphlet | 1,003 | $51,705 | $142,679 | 11.0% |
| 97 | Calico Rock | 1,771 | $26,655 | $194,052 | 1.9% |
| 98 | Carlisle | 2,227 | $41,713 | $188,219 | 4.6% |
| 99 | Ozark | 3,551 | $47,686 | $168,401 | 13.0% |
| 100 | Booneville | 3,798 | $50,459 | $106,514 | 10.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 via Saturday Night Science. 144 Arkansas towns between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these small towns in Arkansas are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Arkansas are Johnson, Lake Hamilton, Haskell, Gentry, Austin, Salem, Rockwell, Lavaca, Wooster, and Gravette. Not sold on Arkansas? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Small Towns In Arkansas FAQs
What is the best small town to live in Arkansas?
Johnson is the best small town in Arkansas for 2026. The median household income there is $95,844 and the median home costs $344,377. Lake Hamilton and Haskell round out the top three.
What are the best small towns in Arkansas?
The best small towns in Arkansas are Johnson, Lake Hamilton, Haskell, Gentry, Austin, Salem, Rockwell, Lavaca, Wooster, and Gravette. We ranked all 144 Arkansas towns with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
What counts as a small town?
For this ranking, a small town is any Arkansas place with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents. 144 towns fit that window this year.
How do you rank the best small towns in Arkansas?
Each town is scored on density, unemployment, housing costs, income, education, insurance coverage, and commute times, using Census American Community Survey data. The town with the best average across all of it, Johnson, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in Johnson?
The median home in Johnson runs $344,377, against $222,050 across Arkansas as a whole. Pair that with a $95,844 median household income, and you can see why it ranks so well.
