Best counties to retire to in Arkansas
Best counties to retire to in Arkansas
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Arkansas based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Arkansas.
#25. Pike County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,182
- Median household income: $51,000
- Median home value: $115,400
- Top places to live: Muddy Fork Township (A), Antoine Township (B+), Murfreesboro (B+)
#24. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 16,775
- Median household income: $41,215
- Median home value: $87,300
- Top places to live: Diaz (B), Newport (C+), Jefferson Township (B+)
#23. Searcy County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 7,861
- Median household income: $41,978
- Median home value: $108,100
- Top places to live: Long Creek Township (B+), Bear Creek No. 4 Township (B-), Prairie Township (B-)
#22. Newton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,175
- Median household income: $47,395
- Median home value: $178,800
- Top places to live: Marble Falls Township (B), Murray Township (B-), Plumlee Township (B-)
#21. Ouachita County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 22,317
- Median household income: $49,838
- Median home value: $99,600
- Top places to live: Camden (B), Bradley Township (B+), Freeo Township (B+)
#20. Pulaski County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 398,949
- Median household income: $60,385
- Median home value: $199,600
- Top places to live: Hillcrest (A+), River Mountain (A+), Downtown (A+)
#19. Ashley County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 18,722
- Median household income: $44,481
- Median home value: $88,800
- Top places to live: Hamburg (B-), Crossett (B-), West Crossett (B-)
#18. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,571
- Median household income: $49,015
- Median home value: $136,000
- Top places to live: Caney Township (B), Black Springs Township (B), Norman (B)
#17. Stone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 12,474
- Median household income: $38,531
- Median home value: $149,400
- Top places to live: Richwoods Township (B+), Farris Township (B), Northwest Township (B-)
#16. Woodruff County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 6,157
- Median household income: $49,982
- Median home value: $96,800
- Top places to live: McCrory (B), Augusta Township (B), Patterson (B)
#15. Carroll County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 28,526
- Median household income: $55,187
- Median home value: $186,300
- Top places to live: Green Forest (B+), Berryville (B-), Alpena (B+)
#14. Prairie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,162
- Median household income: $51,094
- Median home value: $87,500
- Top places to live: Des Arc (B), White River Township (B), Hickory Plain Township (B)
#13. Saline County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 125,724
- Median household income: $76,534
- Median home value: $211,700
- Top places to live: Bryant (A), Alexander (A-), Salem (A-)
#12. Grant County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,111
- Median household income: $72,512
- Median home value: $154,500
- Top places to live: Sheridan (B), Simpson Township (B), Poyen (B)
#11. Sebastian County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 128,448
- Median household income: $56,450
- Median home value: $166,000
- Top places to live: Greenwood (A-), Fort Smith (A-), Barling (B+)
#10. Dallas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 6,351
- Median household income: $44,694
- Median home value: $98,200
- Top places to live: Fordyce (B-), Owen Township (A-), Sparkman (B+)
#9. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 6,681
- Median household income: $43,955
- Median home value: $82,200
- Top places to live: Brinkley (C+), Roc Roe Township (B-), Clarendon (B-)
#8. Cleburne County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,048
- Median household income: $55,979
- Median home value: $174,600
- Top places to live: Heber Springs (B), Valley Township (B), Mountain Township (B-)
#7. Polk County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 19,348
- Median household income: $49,252
- Median home value: $122,600
- Top places to live: Mena (B-), Center Township (B+), White Township (B)
#6. Fulton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,239
- Median household income: $38,941
- Median home value: $107,200
- Top places to live: Mammoth Spring Township (B), Mammoth Spring (B), Benton Township (B)
#5. Van Buren County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,936
- Median household income: $47,266
- Median home value: $122,300
- Top places to live: Choctaw Township (B+), East Griggs Township (B+), Clinton (B)
#4. Sharp County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 17,597
- Median household income: $42,950
- Median home value: $94,600
- Top places to live: Highland (B), Cherokee Village (B-), Upper North Township (A-)
#3. Garland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 100,062
- Median household income: $55,409
- Median home value: $176,400
- Top places to live: Hot Springs (B+), Lake Hamilton (B+), Piney (B+)
#2. Izard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,866
- Median household income: $47,728
- Median home value: $122,100
- Top places to live: Drytown Township (A-), Lacrosse Township (B+), Mill Creek Township (B+)
#1. Baxter County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 42,150
- Median household income: $48,427
- Median home value: $165,400
- Top places to live: Mountain Home (B-), Mountain Home Township (B), Lakeview (B)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
