Best counties to raise a family in Arkansas

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Arkansas

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Arkansas using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#30. Conway County, Arkansas

- Population: 20,687
- Median home value: $116,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $650 (33% own)
- Median household income: $45,812
- Top public schools: Nemo Vista Middle School (grade A minus), Nemo Vista High School (grade B), Morrilton Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade B), Riverview Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Morrilton (grade B minus), Cedar Falls Township (grade A), Howard Township (grade B+)

#29. Crittenden County, Arkansas

- Population: 48,338
- Median home value: $131,400 (57% own)
- Median rent: $770 (43% own)
- Median household income: $46,452
- Top public schools: Richland Elementary School (grade B), Marion High School (grade B minus), Bragg Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: West Memphis Christian School (grade B), St. Michael School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Marion (grade B), West Memphis (grade C+), Mound City Township (grade A minus)

#28. Perry County, Arkansas

- Population: 10,056
- Median home value: $117,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $658 (22% own)
- Median household income: $47,500
- Top public schools: Bigelow High School (grade B), Anne Watson Elementary School (grade B), Perryville High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Aplin Township (grade A minus), Union Township (grade B+), Wye Township (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade C+

#27. Independence County, Arkansas

- Population: 37,796
- Median home value: $100,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $715 (30% own)
- Median household income: $50,028
- Top public schools: Sulphur Rock Magnet School (grade A minus), Batesville High School (grade B+), Southside Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Community School (grade unavailable), Hope Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Batesville (grade B+), Moorefield (grade B+), Moorefield Township (grade B+)

#26. Pike County, Arkansas

- Population: 10,234
- Median home value: $86,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $633 (23% own)
- Median household income: $46,672
- Top public schools: Centerpoint Elementary School (grade B+), Centerpoint High School (grade B), Kirby High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Glenwood Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Muddy Fork Township (grade B+), White Township (grade B+), Eagle Township (grade B)

#25. Columbia County, Arkansas

- Population: 22,947
- Median home value: $106,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $641 (28% own)
- Median household income: $41,115
- Top public schools: Taylor Elementary School (grade A minus), Emerson Elementary School (grade A minus), Taylor High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Columbia Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Magnolia (grade B minus), Emerson Township (grade B+), Taylor Township (grade B+)

#24. Polk County, Arkansas

- Population: 19,476
- Median home value: $108,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $665 (23% own)
- Median household income: $43,444
- Top public schools: Mena Middle School (grade B), Cossatot River Elementary School (grade B), Acorn High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Mena (grade B minus), Acorn Township (grade B), Vandervoort (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B minus

#23. Clark County, Arkansas

- Population: 21,569
- Median home value: $120,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $641 (40% own)
- Median household income: $45,351
- Top public schools: Arkadelphia High School (grade B minus), Goza Middle School (grade B minus), Gurdon High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Clark County Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Arkadelphia (grade B+), Caddo Township (grade B+), Caddo Valley (grade B+)

#22. Cross County, Arkansas

- Population: 16,935
- Median home value: $85,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $761 (34% own)
- Median household income: $45,247
- Top public schools: Cross County Elementary Tech Academy (grade B+), Wynne Junior High School (grade B), Wynne High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Caldwell Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Wynne (grade B minus), Smith Township (grade B), Tyronza Township (grade B minus)

#21. Boone County, Arkansas

- Population: 37,445
- Median home value: $133,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $645 (30% own)
- Median household income: $48,625
- Top public schools: Valley Springs Middle School (grade A), Bergman Middle School (grade A minus), Harrison Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hillcrest Christian School (grade unavailable), Bible Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Harrison (grade B minus), Bellefonte Township (grade B+), Ewing Township (grade B+)

#20. Garland County, Arkansas

- Population: 99,694
- Median home value: $145,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $827 (32% own)
- Median household income: $49,985
- Top public schools: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (grade A+), Lakeside Intermediate School (grade A), Lakeside Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Gospel Light Christian School (grade A), Christian Ministries Academy (grade C+), St. John Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hot Springs (grade B+), Rockwell (grade B), Piney (grade B)

#19. Howard County, Arkansas

- Population: 12,894
- Median home value: $107,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $691 (32% own)
- Median household income: $39,558
- Top public schools: Nashville Elementary School (grade A minus), Nashville High School (grade B+), Nashville Primary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Nashville Christian Academy (grade unavailable), UMPIRE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Nashville (grade B minus), Center Point Township (grade B), Buck Range Township (grade B)

#18. Yell County, Arkansas

- Population: 20,489
- Median home value: $112,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $625 (32% own)
- Median household income: $51,070
- Top public schools: S.C. Tucker Elementary School (grade A minus), Dardanelle High School (grade B+), Danville High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Ola Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Dardanelle (grade B), Danville (grade A minus), Danville Township (grade A minus)

#17. Arkansas County, Arkansas

- Population: 17,273
- Median home value: $114,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $699 (33% own)
- Median household income: $55,022
- Top public schools: Dewitt Middle School (grade B), Stuttgart High School (grade B minus), Dewitt Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Grand Prairie Evangelical Methodist School (grade B), St. John's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Holy Rosary Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Stuttgart (grade B), DeWitt (grade B minus), Bayou Meto Township (grade A minus)

#16. Mississippi County, Arkansas

- Population: 41,061
- Median home value: $96,200 (58% own)
- Median rent: $664 (42% own)
- Median household income: $45,740
- Top public schools: Armorel Elementary School (grade A), Buffalo Island Central East Elementary School (grade B+), Manila Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Delta School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Gosnell (grade B), Manila (grade B minus), Blytheville (grade B minus)

#15. Little River County, Arkansas

- Population: 12,104
- Median home value: $86,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $598 (19% own)
- Median household income: $57,614
- Top public schools: Oscar Hamilton Elementary School (grade B+), Ashdown High School (grade B), Ashdown Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: New Faith Tabernacle Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Ashdown (grade B), Jeff Davis Township (grade B+), Jefferson Township (grade B+)

#14. Carroll County, Arkansas

- Population: 28,154
- Median home value: $154,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $654 (24% own)
- Median household income: $53,366
- Top public schools: Eureka Springs Middle School (grade A minus), Green Forest Elementary School (grade B+), Eureka Springs High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: The Academy of Excellence (grade unavailable), Clear Spring School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Berryville (grade B), Green Forest (grade B minus), Prairie Township (grade A minus)

#13. Crawford County, Arkansas

- Population: 60,483
- Median home value: $131,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $734 (24% own)
- Median household income: $52,057
- Top public schools: Northridge Middle School (grade B+), Alma Middle School (grade B+), Rena Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Van Buren (grade B+), Alma (grade B minus), Van Buren Township (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: grade B

#12. Union County, Arkansas

- Population: 39,262
- Median home value: $89,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $717 (25% own)
- Median household income: $46,444
- Top public schools: Hugh Goodwin Elementary School (grade A minus), Parkers Chapel High School (grade B+), Smackover Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: West Side Christian School (grade B+), Maranatha Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: El Dorado (grade B), Boone Township (grade A), El Dorado Township (grade B+)

#11. White County, Arkansas

- Population: 77,075
- Median home value: $129,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $720 (32% own)
- Median household income: $46,345
- Top public schools: Westside Elementary School (grade A minus), Ahlf Junior High School (grade A minus), Southwest Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Crosspointe Preparatory (grade A minus), Harding Academy (grade A minus), Liberty Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Searcy (grade B+), Beebe (grade B), Judsonia (grade B minus)

#10. Lonoke County, Arkansas

- Population: 73,824
- Median home value: $153,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $864 (28% own)
- Median household income: $62,561
- Top public schools: Cabot Freshman Academy (grade A), Cabot Junior High North (grade A minus), Westside Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: New Horizon Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Austin (grade A minus), Cabot (grade A minus), Ward (grade B)

#9. Pope County, Arkansas

- Population: 63,234
- Median home value: $132,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $745 (28% own)
- Median household income: $47,322
- Top public schools: Pottsville Elementary School (grade A), Center Valley Elementary School (grade A), Pottsville Middle Grade (grade A)
- Top private schools: Valley Christian School (grade A), St. John Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pottsville (grade A minus), Russellville (grade A minus), Illinois Township (grade A minus)

#8. Sevier County, Arkansas

- Population: 16,074
- Median home value: $94,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $648 (36% own)
- Median household income: $49,470
- Top public schools: Dequeen Middle School (grade A minus), Dequeen Elementary School (grade A minus), Dequeen Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Legacy Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: De Queen (grade B), Monroe Township (grade B+), Bear Creek Township (grade B+)

#7. Pulaski County, Arkansas

- Population: 397,931
- Median home value: $166,300 (58% own)
- Median rent: $917 (42% own)
- Median household income: $55,235
- Top public schools: Central High School (grade A), Maumelle Charter Elementary School (grade A), LISA Academy North Middle-High School - High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pulaski Academy (grade A+), The Episcopal Collegiate School (grade A+), Little Rock Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Hillcrest (grade A+), River Mountain (grade A+), Downtown (grade A+)

#6. Craighead County, Arkansas

- Population: 109,875
- Median home value: $157,100 (58% own)
- Median rent: $824 (42% own)
- Median household income: $51,788
- Top public schools: Valley View Elementary School (grade A), Valley View Intermediate School (grade A minus), Valley View Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Ridgefield Christian School (grade A minus), Montessori School of Jonesboro (grade unavailable), Blessed Sacrament School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Jonesboro (grade B+), Brookland (grade B+), Gilkerson Township (grade A minus)

#5. Saline County, Arkansas

- Population: 122,308
- Median home value: $168,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $884 (22% own)
- Median household income: $68,605
- Top public schools: Bethel Middle School (grade A), Springhill Elementary School (grade A), Parkway Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Arkansas Christian Academy (grade C minus), Avilla Christian Academy (grade C), Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bryant (grade A), Salem (grade A minus), Alexander (grade A minus)

#4. Faulkner County, Arkansas

- Population: 123,191
- Median home value: $171,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $857 (38% own)
- Median household income: $54,845
- Top public schools: Greenbrier Middle School (grade A), Greenbrier Springhill Elementary School (grade A), Greenbrier Junior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Conway Christian School (grade A minus), St. Joseph School (grade B+), COMPASS ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Conway (grade A), Greenbrier (grade B+), Mayflower (grade B)

#3. Washington County, Arkansas

- Population: 242,793
- Median home value: $201,800 (54% own)
- Median rent: $865 (46% own)
- Median household income: $56,610
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy (grade A+), Haas Hall Academy Jones Center (Springdale) (grade A), Fayetteville High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian School (grade A), Fayetteville Christian School (grade A minus), The New School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Fayetteville (grade A), Johnson (grade A), Elm Springs (grade A minus)

#2. Sebastian County, Arkansas

- Population: 127,941
- Median home value: $136,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $751 (40% own)
- Median household income: $50,226
- Top public schools: Greenwood Junior High School (grade A), East Hills Middle School (grade A), East Pointe Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Union Christian Academy (grade A), Christ the King Catholic School (grade unavailable), Immaculate Conception Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Greenwood (grade A minus), Fort Smith (grade A minus), Barling (grade B+)

#1. Benton County, Arkansas

- Population: 278,774
- Median home value: $211,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (33% own)
- Median household income: $76,887
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy Bentonville (grade A+), Haas Hall Academy at the Lane (Rogers) (grade A+), Bentonville High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Thaden School (grade A+), Providence Classical Christian Academy (grade A minus), Ozark Adventist Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Bentonville (grade A+), Cave Springs (grade A+), Centerton (grade A)

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