Best small towns to live in Arkansas

1. 1
   Pottsville, AR Score 75/100

   3,229 people · typical home $172k · household income $69k · 215 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of AR · 3.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Corning, AR Score 74/100

   3,134 people · typical home $90k · household income $50k · 261 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 23% of AR · 3.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Higginson, AR Score 72/100

   1,055 people · typical home $132k · household income $77k · 312 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of AR · 5.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   London, AR Score 71/100

   1,217 people · typical home $100k · household income $50k · 374 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of AR · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   McCrory, AR Score 71/100

   1,850 people · typical home $89k · household income $44k · 232 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 24% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Murfreesboro, AR Score 71/100

   1,819 people · typical home $119k · household income $53k · 173 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 34% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Oak Grove Heights, AR Score 70/100

   1,164 people · typical home $185k · household income $82k · 220 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 55% of AR · 2.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   De Queen, AR Score 70/100

   6,058 people · typical home $110k · household income $53k · 350 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of AR · 5.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Ash Flat, AR Score 70/100

   1,217 people · typical home $94k · household income $42k · 300 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 8% of AR · 6.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Atkins, AR Score 69/100

    2,877 people · typical home $124k · household income $62k · 358 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 28% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Salem, AR Score 67/100

    1,620 people · typical home $106k · household income $41k · 309 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 5% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Dardanelle, AR Score 66/100

    4,511 people · typical home $139k · household income $51k · 308 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Danville, AR Score 66/100

    2,289 people · typical home $123k · household income $64k · 481 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 19% of AR · 7.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Harrison, AR Score 65/100

    13,350 people · typical home $170k · household income $44k · 270 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 2% of AR · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Gentry, AR Score 64/100

    4,240 people · typical home $186k · household income $70k · 293 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of AR · 2.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Marmaduke, AR Score 64/100

    1,240 people · typical home $112k · household income $51k · 350 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of AR · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Oppelo, AR Score 64/100

    1,118 people · typical home $119k · household income $66k · 290 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of AR · 8.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Heber Springs, AR Score 63/100

    7,161 people · typical home $176k · household income $51k · 219 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of AR · 7.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Mountain View, AR Score 63/100

    2,913 people · typical home $204k · household income $29k · 258 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 21% of AR · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Midway, AR Score 63/100

    1,279 people · typical home $161k · household income $31k · 127 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 17% of AR · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Highland, AR Score 63/100

    1,354 people · typical home $104k · household income $49k · 377 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 8% of AR · 7.0% unemployment · 20 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Cherokee Village, AR Score 63/100

    5,046 people · typical home $95k · household income $37k · 221 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 8% of AR · 16.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Hamburg, AR Score 62/100

    2,886 people · typical home $77k · household income $34k · 242 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 66% of AR · 5.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Lamar, AR Score 62/100

    1,783 people · typical home $162k · household income $51k · 183 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of AR · 2.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Cave City, AR Score 61/100

    2,090 people · typical home $121k · household income $50k · 411 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of AR · 5.0% unemployment · 31 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Arkansas with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Arkansas on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Arkansas districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Arkansas →