2019 Best Places to Raise a Family in ArkansasAbout this List

Bentonville

• Town in Arkansas
• 124

Current Resident: This is a great growing city for families! Lots to do, outside and inside, fantastic restaurants, museums, bike trails and a wonderful little downtown square! People are friendly and helpful, it's home to Walmart HQ, so lots of jobs available, affordable housing as well.
Read 124 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 44,601 Population

Cave Springs

• Town in Arkansas
• 5

Current Resident: I love the small town feel of this suburb of Bentonville and Fayetteville. I have lived here for about 10 years and Cave Springs Coffee Co is the best coffee shop in Northwest Arkansas.
Read 5 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,320 Population

Capital View/Stiff

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 4

Niche User: I Love this area. I would like to buy a house in this area. It is one the only areas in the city with a good public school. I has a great community feel. A good mixture of economic backgrounds.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A+

• 4,097 Population

Hillcrest

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 7

Current Resident: I've lived in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock, AR for almost 20 years. It's an old historic neighborhood with many local businesses: restaurants, salons, shopping, etc. I absolutely love being associated with this tight knit, laid back community. We have several community events that are very enjoyable. On the first Thursday of every month, all of our local businesses extend their hours and open their doors for Hillcrest Shop 'N Sip. It gives the community an opportunity to visit businesses and socialize with neighbors. Every Saturday morning, we have Hillcrest Farmers Market. Local farmers, vendors, and food truck operators offer their products for sample and sale. Annually, in November, we have a 2 day festival called HarvestFest. It is two fun-filled days of local vendors, food, and entertainment. All of the Hillcrest community events are free to attend. It is wobderful to be a Hillcrest resident!
Read 7 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A+

• 8,718 Population

Heights

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 18

Niche User: I love Little Rock. I am not from here originally, but I appreciate how friendly the people in Little Rock are. I wish the schools were better and I wish most people were more educated, but other than that I wouldn't change anything.
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 8,395 Population

Johnson

• Town in Arkansas

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,611 Population

Centerton

• Town in Arkansas
• 31

Current Resident: I love Centerton. It's a growing community just west of Bentonville and now is home to the Bentonville West School District. Centerton is vastly growing into a popular destination for many people wanting to live in the Bentonville area but not in Bentonville. With many restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores you can find anything your family is needing. You are only 10 minutes from the highway so you can go to other cities in the area in a breeze.
Read 31 Reviews

• A

• A+

• A+

• 12,178 Population

River Mountain

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 26

Niche User: Great Elementary School (Don Roberts) less than 1 mile from my house in a wonderful neighborhood.
Read 26 Reviews

• A+

• B

• A

• 27,317 Population

Lowell

• Town in Arkansas
• 11

Current Resident: It is a very small community, but that's what makes it great. There's a lot of family owned businesses around and community based. The law enforcement and responders are caring as well.
Read 11 Reviews

• A

• A

• A

• 8,622 Population

Fayetteville

• Town in Arkansas
• 367

Current Resident: It's like being in a twilight zone. When I moved to Arkansas for the first time, I was expecting it to be a backwoods are with people that are super racist and closed minded. I just knew I was going to feel like an outsider, but honestly I've been pleasantly surprised. This area reminds me of a suburb of Dallas; eco-friendly, lots of different types of restaurants, a strip of bars, and family friendly areas. There's a good mix of franchise and local businesses.The Walmarts here are amazing, all the employees are so nice and helpful!There's also a free bus routes that take you all over the city which are very helpful if you do not have a car or want to save some gas money. The only down side i have found in Fayetteville is the Ethnic food aren't too good, but they are amazing in the city right next to ours, Springdale. Coming from living in Texas, I have been really loving it here! It's a bit more humid but its worth it for all the beautiful vegetation around.
Read 367 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 81,889 Population

Rock Creek

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 22

Niche User: Overall, my neighborhood in Hillsborough has been a memorable place for me to live throughout my later childhood years. My neighbors have always been inviting and the community is something I will miss while I'm in college. It has a nature and family friendly atmosphere that is exemplified through its park and pool area in the middle of the neighborhood. One of my favorite things about where I live is that my house is encompassed by mountains and is surrounded on all sides. If I had the option to move back to Little Rock in the future, I would love to live where I am now, however there are other parts of town I would want to experience as well. Personally, there is a part in Little Rock called the Heights and Hillcrest that has classy and old fashioned houses in well organized neighborhoods. If I were to move back to LR after college those would be options for me as well. Little Rock is on its way to becoming a safe and family friendly city with beautiful nature and scenery.
Read 22 Reviews

• A+

• B-

• A

• 18,891 Population

Greenwood

• Town in Arkansas
• 43

Nearby Resident: I love living in the Greenwood area. The crime rate is low, there are no problems throughout the city, and everybody knows everybody. The city is always working with the public as they are looking to add to the city. If I had one complainant about Greenwood, I'd say that there are not enough things for the younger generation to do. If High School students want to do something with their friends, they will have to travel 15-30 minutes into Fort Smith. Greenwood does have a variety of restaurants and stores which is nice. If the city ends up adding places for the younger generation to hang out this city would be 5 out of 5 stars.
Read 43 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A

• 9,311 Population

Walnut Valley

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 18

Current Resident: My Overall experience of Walnut Valley on a scale from 1-10 and with 10 being the Highest would be a 10. We are rated #6 out of 27 Top places to live in Little Rock, AR. I personally don't need to see anything Change at this time. I'm very satisfied and happy about the convenience of many things being just minutes away and it's a Peaceful and Safe place to call home with friendly people! Thank you!
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A

• 8,924 Population

Rogers

• Town in Arkansas
• 176

Current Resident: Rogers is a very family-friendly city, whose population is steadily increasing along with the real estate market. Neighboring cities are growing due to the increased attraction to the expanding area, putting Rogers on the map. The only downside is the lack of entertainment and attractions. As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, I'm sure this will change. The Walmart Amp and Top Golf (currently being built) are expected to increase attraction to the area. However, Rogers is a very safe and sturdy environment, great for starting families and careers.
Read 176 Reviews

• A

• A

• A

• 63,411 Population

West Markham

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 12

• A

• B+

• A

• 3,215 Population

Searcy

• Town in Arkansas
• 98

Current Resident: I've lived in Searcy my entire life. The town is big enough to constantly be meeting new people but small enough to probably see someone you know at the grocery store. Downtown Searcy has been steadily growing and has began hosting more events, like Get Down Downtown, Beats and Eats, and the New Years Eve celebration. Each of these events host both local musical talents and nationally known performers. There are 3 school districts to chose from depending on which area of town you reside in. Harding University also sits in the heart of Searcy, which attracts thousands of students worldwide. The town recently changed its decision to keep bars out of restaurants in town, so we now have a few restaurants authorized to serve alcohol, and there is also progress being made on a new shopping center that will house new national chain stores for the town like Ulta Beauty, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Hobby Lobby.
Read 98 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A

• 23,819 Population

Bella Vista

• Town in Arkansas
• 44

Current Resident: Bella Vista is such a beautiful little town! Although it has a history as a community of mostly older people, many families and younger people have moved in as well in recent years! There are many amenities here, including golf courses, fishing spots, parks, and a recreation center! It's also not-unreasonably far from lively towns like Bentonville and Rogers while still maintaining its homey, village feeling. Although the cost of living here is a little bit higher due to POA dues and associated fees, I think that the elevated cost really pays off in the end by snagging you a spot in such a nice little community!
Read 44 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A-

• 28,092 Population

Prairie Grove

• Town in Arkansas
• 8

Current Resident: Prairie Grove is a small quiet town, the older folk tend to be friendly and the people in their 20's-30's are generally quiet and keep to themselves. The biggest complaint I have is the prices of housing, plus the amount of drug addicts in the town is going a little rampant.
Read 8 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A-

• 5,187 Population

Springdale

• Town in Arkansas
• 177

Current Resident: Springdale is a city in Northwest Arkansas. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the region. Springdale has great people, amazing companies and teachers that want to see you succeed. I have had many experiences in this city. For example, I’ve experienced going to different schools and each teacher helps you with everything. They never want to see you fail and they are always by your side. They make sure to help you with anything. Springdale has been growing but you still know most of the people because many people are united in this city. An example is the high school football and soccer games. The stadium always gets packed. Downtown Springdale used to look like an old place but I love how they remodeled it. You now see people posting pictures of downtown Springdale on social media and the bike trail is very neat. I would like Springdale to add more things for example, stores,parks and other fun things to do.
Read 177 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A-

• 77,252 Population

Austin

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• 1

Current Resident: Austin/Cabot has a small town feel, but is very close to the larger metropolitan area of Little Rock-providing multiple opportunities.
Read 1 Review

• A-

• A-

• A-

• 2,789 Population

Tontitown

• Town in Arkansas
• 9

Niche User: The atmosphere of Springdale, Arkansas is one that can't be beat. As a student, I have had every opportunity needed to succeed. It is a small town, with access to big things. The education system is top notch and the people are friendly. Springdale has everything a good town needs. The population is growing and small businesses are popping up at every corner. One day, I hope to raise my children here so that they can experience the same quality of life I did.
Read 9 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A-

• 3,062 Population

Little Flock

• Town in Arkansas

• A

• A-

• A-

• 2,702 Population

Gravette

• Town in Arkansas
• 6

Current Resident: I have recently moved to Gravette from a much larger city in the area. After adjusting to the slower pace from Bentonville, Gravette is a tranquil place that helps you escape your stress. The country lifestyle is what my husband and I want for our family; I can't describe how nice it is to be able to smell fresh country air, and to see the stars every night. It is truly wonderful!
Read 6 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• A-

• 3,293 Population

Bryant

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• 73

Current Resident: Bryant Arkansas is a very welcoming environment. With advanced schools and suburban living family are sure to love this suburb of Little Rock. With only a twenty to thirty minute drive to Little Rock there is an abundance of activities and organizations to get involved in. There is always new construction in order to keep Bryant as up to date as possible, with new shopping centers and eateries going up every year. New suburban neighborhoods are going up close to school districts quite often. Bryant Arkansas is fit for a Family.
Read 73 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A-

• 19,607 Population

Residential Downtown

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• 10

Niche User: I really like the place it peace and great.
Read 10 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 6,238 Population