You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Arkansas. Best sururbs 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.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Arkansas For 2026
- Johnson
- Lake Hamilton
- Haskell
- Gentry
- Austin
- Salem
- Rockwell
- Lavaca
- Wooster
- Gravette
- Goshen
- Avilla
- Elm Springs
- Wilson
- Roland
What’s the best small town in Arkansas? Johnson is the best small town in Arkansas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Johnson, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Natural State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
The 15 Best Small Towns In Arkansas For 2026
1. Johnson
/10
Population: 3,656
Median Income: $95,844 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $344,376 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
2. Lake Hamilton
/10
Population: 2,127
Median Income: $73,696 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $479,415 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
3. Haskell
/10
Population: 4,100
Median Income: $85,758 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $204,702 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
4. Gentry
/10
Population: 4,240
Median Income: $69,779 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $300,461 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%
5. Austin
/10
Population: 3,915
Median Income: $113,764 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $246,225 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
6. Salem
/10
Population: 2,642
Median Income: $73,750 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $165,120 (74th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
7. Rockwell
/10
Population: 3,986
Median Income: $63,500 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $342,287 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%
8. Lavaca
/10
Population: 2,489
Median Income: $80,924 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $202,469 (45th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%
9. Wooster
/10
Population: 1,023
Median Income: $111,667 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $393,312 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
10. Gravette
/10
Population: 3,714
Median Income: $68,214 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $359,473 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
11. Goshen
/10
Population: 2,298
Median Income: $150,074 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $731,475 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
12. Avilla
/10
Population: 1,833
Median Income: $106,290 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $428,982 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
13. Elm Springs
/10
Population: 3,069
Median Income: $131,739 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $628,094 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
14. Wilson
/10
Population: 1,023
Median Income: $78,646 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $171,616 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
15. Roland
Population: 1,147
Median Income: $175,125 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $402,524 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%
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.
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 15 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.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Arkansas:
- Earle
- Waldo
- Marked Tree
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
- Safest Places In Arkansas
- Worst Places To Live In Arkansas
Best Small Towns In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson, AR | 3,656 | $95,844 | 1.2% | |
| 2 | Lake Hamilton, AR | 2,127 | $73,696 | 1.1% | |
| 3 | Haskell, AR | 4,100 | $85,758 | 0.8% | |
| 4 | Gentry, AR | 4,240 | $69,779 | 1.6% | |
| 5 | Austin, AR | 3,915 | $113,764 | 1.9% | |
| 6 | Salem, AR | 2,642 | $73,750 | 0.0% | |
| 7 | Rockwell, AR | 3,986 | $63,500 | 3.0% | |
| 8 | Lavaca, AR | 2,489 | $80,924 | 3.0% | |
| 9 | Wooster, AR | 1,023 | $111,667 | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Gravette, AR | 3,714 | $68,214 | 3.5% | |
| 11 | Goshen, AR | 2,298 | $150,074 | 2.1% | |
| 12 | Avilla, AR | 1,833 | $106,290 | 0.0% | |
| 13 | Elm Springs, AR | 3,069 | $131,739 | 1.8% | |
| 14 | Wilson, AR | 1,023 | $78,646 | 4.6% | |
| 15 | Roland, AR | 1,147 | $175,125 | 2.7% | |
| 16 | Elkins, AR | 3,808 | $81,789 | 0.0% | |
| 17 | Shannon Hills, AR | 4,641 | $71,318 | 4.4% | |
| 18 | Pottsville, AR | 3,229 | $68,558 | 2.2% | |
| 19 | Vilonia, AR | 4,498 | $81,815 | 3.8% | |
| 20 | West Fork, AR | 3,095 | $77,566 | 3.5% | |
| 21 | Redfield, AR | 1,734 | $71,696 | 3.0% | |
| 22 | Oak Grove Heights, AR | 1,164 | $82,292 | 0.9% | |
| 23 | Mayflower, AR | 2,861 | $75,682 | 4.4% | |
| 24 | Highfill, AR | 2,191 | $92,596 | 0.7% | |
| 25 | East Camden, AR | 1,026 | $37,500 | 4.5% | |
| 26 | Greenland, AR | 1,274 | $69,821 | 3.7% | |
| 27 | Sulphur Rock, AR | 1,014 | $96,429 | 0.9% | |
| 28 | Little Flock, AR | 3,056 | $60,878 | 7.1% | |
| 29 | Cedarville, AR | 1,760 | $59,740 | 1.7% | |
| 30 | Higginson, AR | 1,055 | $76,957 | 4.0% | |
| 31 | Dardanelle, AR | 4,511 | $51,040 | 3.5% | |
| 32 | Corning, AR | 3,134 | $50,408 | 2.1% | |
| 33 | Charleston, AR | 2,646 | $56,600 | 1.6% | |
| 34 | Marmaduke, AR | 1,240 | $51,250 | 0.9% | |
| 35 | Prairie Creek, AR | 2,493 | $93,391 | 8.0% | |
| 36 | Atkins, AR | 2,877 | $61,908 | 3.2% | |
| 37 | Green Forest, AR | 3,112 | $49,918 | 3.9% | |
| 38 | Hazen, AR | 1,874 | $49,225 | 1.5% | |
| 39 | Lamar, AR | 1,783 | $50,568 | 1.8% | |
| 40 | London, AR | 1,217 | $49,688 | 2.1% | |
| 41 | Cotter, AR | 1,063 | $35,792 | 1.2% | |
| 42 | Gibson, AR | 4,167 | $66,496 | 11.3% | |
| 43 | Dyer, AR | 1,049 | $94,327 | 3.5% | |
| 44 | Bay, AR | 2,333 | $59,769 | 2.1% | |
| 45 | Murfreesboro, AR | 1,819 | $53,264 | 3.7% | |
| 46 | Mountain View, AR | 2,913 | $29,172 | 0.0% | |
| 47 | Gosnell, AR | 2,778 | $61,130 | 2.3% | |
| 48 | Brookland, AR | 4,377 | $57,308 | 5.5% | |
| 49 | Manila, AR | 3,691 | $55,792 | 1.9% | |
| 50 | Leachville, AR | 1,852 | $51,406 | 0.7% | |
| 51 | Lincoln, AR | 2,794 | $68,333 | 3.1% | |
| 52 | Flippin, AR | 1,334 | $43,555 | 6.7% | |
| 53 | Rector, AR | 1,750 | $47,760 | 4.1% | |
| 54 | Lake City, AR | 2,531 | $60,273 | 7.0% | |
| 55 | Judsonia, AR | 2,052 | $43,279 | 3.0% | |
| 56 | Plumerville, AR | 1,128 | $42,552 | 0.0% | |
| 57 | Prescott, AR | 3,032 | $48,307 | 0.0% | |
| 58 | Bono, AR | 2,657 | $56,098 | 10.8% | |
| 59 | Fairfield Bay, AR | 2,515 | $56,594 | 4.0% | |
| 60 | Paris, AR | 3,284 | $51,416 | 5.0% | |
| 61 | Perryville, AR | 1,390 | $57,400 | 1.3% | |
| 62 | Huntsville, AR | 3,202 | $57,813 | 3.3% | |
| 63 | Star City, AR | 2,405 | $51,051 | 3.3% | |
| 64 | Lake Village, AR | 2,144 | $41,434 | 10.5% | |
| 65 | Bald Knob, AR | 2,518 | $48,355 | 6.5% | |
| 66 | Smackover, AR | 2,419 | $55,995 | 7.4% | |
| 67 | Cave City, AR | 2,090 | $49,800 | 4.7% | |
| 68 | Gurdon, AR | 1,625 | $47,587 | 5.6% | |
| 69 | Alexander, AR | 3,587 | $57,250 | 5.2% | |
| 70 | Lonoke, AR | 4,267 | $47,524 | 15.8% | |
| 71 | Wrightsville, AR | 1,484 | $45,417 | 1.5% | |
| 72 | Nashville, AR | 4,063 | $41,142 | 6.9% | |
| 73 | Mccrory, AR | 1,850 | $43,516 | 3.4% | |
| 74 | Clinton, AR | 2,509 | $42,946 | 0.0% | |
| 75 | Ashdown, AR | 4,164 | $55,625 | 10.2% | |
| 76 | Yellville, AR | 1,223 | $37,813 | 6.2% | |
| 77 | Gassville, AR | 1,850 | $38,750 | 8.4% | |
| 78 | Ash Flat, AR | 1,217 | $41,667 | 4.6% | |
| 79 | Crossett, AR | 4,639 | $44,672 | 5.3% | |
| 80 | Midway, AR | 1,279 | $30,750 | 0.0% | |
| 81 | Piney, AR | 4,458 | $50,901 | 9.2% | |
| 82 | Rison, AR | 1,019 | $35,855 | 2.5% | |
| 83 | Eureka Springs, AR | 2,433 | $38,425 | 3.3% | |
| 84 | England, AR | 2,294 | $46,544 | 2.4% | |
| 85 | Kibler, AR | 1,085 | $58,500 | 3.6% | |
| 86 | Monette, AR | 1,251 | $54,167 | 9.9% | |
| 87 | Danville, AR | 2,289 | $64,420 | 7.3% | |
| 88 | Mineral Springs, AR | 1,358 | $52,031 | 3.4% | |
| 89 | Decatur, AR | 1,567 | $45,179 | 5.2% | |
| 90 | Dover, AR | 1,795 | $32,332 | 2.6% | |
| 91 | Mount Ida, AR | 1,376 | $37,045 | 6.7% | |
| 92 | Bull Shoals, AR | 1,678 | $41,976 | 12.9% | |
| 93 | Hackett, AR | 1,118 | $44,081 | 4.6% | |
| 94 | Mulberry, AR | 1,646 | $50,428 | 0.0% | |
| 95 | Landmark, AR | 3,948 | $53,788 | 2.8% | |
| 96 | Norphlet, AR | 1,003 | $51,705 | 11.0% | |
| 97 | Calico Rock, AR | 1,771 | $26,655 | 1.9% | |
| 98 | Carlisle, AR | 2,227 | $41,713 | 4.6% | |
| 99 | Ozark, AR | 3,551 | $47,686 | 13.0% | |
| 100 | Booneville, AR | 3,798 | $50,459 | 10.0% |