2021 Best Places to Raise a Family in Arkansas

Cave Springs

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 4.14 out of 5  7 reviews

Works Here: Great community! Great small local feel! We have a family owned Hardware Store (Nelsons) downtown main st and have been there for 15 years. We have the best town and community we could ever ask for!!!
Read 7 Reviews

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• 4,359 Population

Bentonville

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 4.35 out of 5  155 reviews

Current Resident: Bentonville is a town with a rich history. In downtown Bentonville, there is the first ever Walmart that was built. Sam Walton left a huge mark on the beautiful town that impacts our lifestyle in the town even to this day! The infamous Crystal Bridges Art Museum is also in this town, and it is a must to see! As more people are moving in, more schools are having to be built, which is increasing the property tax along with other costs. I would want to see these costs to go down, but other than that, Bentonville Arkansas is a wonderful place and it is growing at a very positive rate! A wonderful place to live in!
Read 155 Reviews

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• 49,467 Population

Capital View/Stiff

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: Pretty safe neighborhood for the most part. Many police patrolled areas as well. So many friendly people here, and it is also very diverse. I feel accepted here and cared about as well. People in this neighborhood actually care about one another.

The only concerns are just that petty theft is the most common crime in the neighborhood. Some oddballs to come at night but they only walk around Markham and that's about it.

Schools are pretty good. The teachers at MLK and Central are great! These are two great schools to send your kids to.

Several jobs here as well. Especially located on Markham. That street is very busy but has so many jobs to work at.

There are also many restaurants to hangout at. Nightlife is very common here.
Read 6 Reviews

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• 3,615 Population

Hillcrest

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 4.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Hillcrest is an extremely family friendly neighborhood. It is pedestrian friendly and has lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and a grocery store. Allsop park has great trails for running. PHE and PHMS are two of the best schools in the Little Rock School District. Hillcrest tends to be a very well-educated and liberal neighborhood. It's main problems are it has expensive housing and it lacks diversity.
Read 8 Reviews

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• 8,236 Population

Johnson

• Suburb in Arkansas

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• 3,707 Population

Centerton

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 3.92 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: Love this area, with the new High School, Jr. High School and Elementary School this area has attracted families from all over. We are a 15 min drive to almost anything you can think of. I expect that more shopping plazas and economic expansion will be happening here within the next 10 years that will rival Bentonville and Rogers.
Read 37 Reviews

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• 14,203 Population

Heights

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.33 out of 5  18 reviews

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

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• 8,500 Population

Greenwood

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 3.96 out of 5  54 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Greenwood! Even though there is not a lot to do as far as entertainment, there is always something going on at the high school or you can go hammock at the local park. This community really feels like one big family. It is also very close to a city where there are different things to do so you can just hop in your car and drive there. There are also a lot of good places to eat! The schools are amazing and have something for every kid to do. The town is very safe, I'm never scared to go anywhere alone. Some of the best things to do in Greenwood are going to sporting events or hammocking in the local park!
Read 54 Reviews

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• 9,387 Population

Rock Creek

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.64 out of 5  22 reviews

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

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• 18,320 Population

Bella Vista

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  49 reviews

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 49 Reviews

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• 28,539 Population

River Mountain

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.35 out of 5  26 reviews

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

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• 25,591 Population

Fayetteville

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 4.22 out of 5  429 reviews

Current Resident: Fayetteville, AR is an amazing town to live in if you prefer a great community that is up and coming. With amazing new additions to the town, such as new parks and updating the town square, you will be able to find something new and exciting to explore while not breaking the bank! With the University in town and the Walton's helping with updating the area, you will always have new occasions to go out to the community areas, such as the town square, uptown or downtown. I will warn that as the area is starting to boom and students taking up housing, it can be hard to find a place to rent or purchase. Due to an ebb and flow to the student population though, you will be able to find a house or apartment typically mid summer. New companies are coming up to the area constantly and you will be able to find work in whatever area you prefer and the University is a great resource to get access to those opportunities. Fayetteville really is an amazing place to live and raise a family.
Read 429 Reviews

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• 85,166 Population

Lowell

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 4.35 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Lowell! It is a very beautiful and safe area and it is close to everything! The schools are nice and it is family friendly here. I do not have a long commute to work which is very important to me. Both me and my fiancé are close to our jobs as well as grocery stores and department stores.
Read 17 Reviews

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• 9,175 Population

Elm Springs

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 3.33 out of 5  3 reviews

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• 2,399 Population

Rogers

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 4.03 out of 5  204 reviews

Current Resident: I think that in the last few years Rogers has really become a more urbanized society with a ton of opportunities for food, drink, dancing, performing arts, hotels, motels, and lunging around. I love it! It used it be a town full of farmland and a neighbor what seemed like a million miles away. But now there's so many subdivisions and great areas of interest like malls, churches, and plazas!
Read 204 Reviews

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• 66,344 Population

West Markham

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.33 out of 5  12 reviews

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• 2,601 Population

Tontitown

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  10 reviews

Nearby Resident: The largest small town in the county, conveniently located on US Hwy 412. It borders Springdale and is very close to Fayetteville. It's a very quiet town located close to several larger cities with a short commute to anywhere.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 3,677 Population

Walnut Valley

• Neighborhood in Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  18 reviews

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

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• 8,662 Population

Bryant

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• Rating 4.04 out of 5  78 reviews

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 78 Reviews

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• 20,231 Population

Shannon Hills

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.37 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: I am newer to the Shannon Hills area and I absolutely love it. It is a very quiet place to live. The children play in the streets and it stays very clean!
Read 30 Reviews

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• 3,837 Population

Conway

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 3.94 out of 5  356 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived a lot of places, but Conway is my favorite! It has the resources and opportunities of a big city, but with small town charm (and small town traffic!) It's a beautiful city that obviously cares about having integrity and meeting the needs of its citizens. I'm a big fan of the recycling program, which is free and single-stream! There are lots of outdoor areas for recreational activities (Beaverfork Lake, Cadron Park, Toad Suck, Camp Robinson WMA, etc.) and a wide variety of small businesses to support. Conway is proximal to the capital city, making it highly convenient. And one of my favorite things about Conway is the fact that this city uses roundabouts to combat traffic! This is the first place I've lived that utilizes roundabouts, and I can't imagine living any other way!
Read 356 Reviews

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• 66,127 Population

Greenbrier

• Town in Arkansas
• Rating 4.26 out of 5  46 reviews

Current Resident: Greenbrier is a small town that is just starting to grow! You won't be able to live in this town without meetin at least your neighbors. Majority of the population in Greenbrier knows and lives by the rules of Southern hospitality. While it is good that Greenbrier is growing, I would like to see people keep the good attitude and kind hearts that they have had for years.
Read 46 Reviews

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• 5,478 Population

Cabot

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• Rating 3.76 out of 5  121 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Cabot has been a great experience. From the bonded community to the great education system, Cabot has really stood out in my life. My favorite part about living in Cabot is the school system. With one of the largest schools in Arkansas, Cabot School District provides the knowledge and support for all types of students. Along with the education system, the community is tight knit, giving you a sense of pride knowing that you can always call a neighbor and ask for milk. Cabot is very diverse in ways that are important to me and my family. I am very happy to be a Cabot resident.
Read 121 Reviews

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• 26,217 Population

Austin

• Suburb of Little Rock, AR
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

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

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• 3,350 Population

Elkins

• Suburb in Arkansas
• Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: Elkins is a very tight knit community with several different varieties of people. The town itself has vintage buildings and several different restaurants to choose from. The commute could be better, but its not horrible. There are many police officers to provide safety to the town's residents.
Read 5 Reviews

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• 3,139 Population