Best counties to live in Arkansas

- Overall Rank: 1,388
- Population: 17,309
- Median household income: $44,968
- Median home value: $123,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $708 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Monticello High School (grade C+), Monticello Intermediate School (grade C+), Monticello Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Monticello Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monticello (grade B), Live Oak Township (grade B+), Winchester (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,387
- Population: 16,827
- Median household income: $48,129
- Median home value: $97,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $815 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Cross County Elementary Tech Academy (grade A minus), Cross County High School (grade B), Wynne High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Wynne (grade C+), Ellis Township (grade B), Smith Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,373
- Population: 19,384
- Median household income: $48,449
- Median home value: $120,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $730 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Cossatot River Elementary School (grade B+), Mena Middle School (grade B), Holly Harshman Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Mena (grade B minus), Ozark Township (grade B+), Center Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,303
- Population: 18,022
- Median household income: $68,598
- Median home value: $141,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $802 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Poyen Elementary School (grade B+), Sheridan High School (grade B), Sheridan Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Sheridan (grade B), Poyen (grade B+), Simpson Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,278
- Population: 42,682
- Median household income: $47,613
- Median home value: $137,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $831 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Genoa Central Elementary School (grade A minus), Gary E. Cobb Middle School (grade A minus), Genoa Central High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Texarkana (grade B), Garland Township (grade B+), Cleveland Township (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,271
- Population: 6,259
- Median household income: $49,608
- Median home value: $96,100 (69% own)
- Median rent: $582 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: McCrory Elementary School (grade A minus), McCrory High School (grade B), Augusta High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: McCrory (grade B+), Patterson (grade B+), De View Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,258
- Population: 13,748
- Median household income: $46,159
- Median home value: $110,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $616 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Melbourne Elementary School (grade B+), Melbourne High School (grade B), Calico Rock High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Drytown Township (grade A minus), Mill Creek Township (grade B+), Lacrosse Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,171
- Population: 12,779
- Median household income: $44,824
- Median home value: $125,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $732 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Nashville Elementary School (grade A minus), Umpire K-12 School (grade B+), Nashville Primary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Nashville Christian Academy (grade unavailable), UMPIRE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Nashville (grade B minus), Buck Range Township (grade B+), Center Point Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,122
- Population: 20,782
- Median household income: $50,282
- Median home value: $129,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $698 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Nemo Vista Middle School (grade A minus), Nemo Vista High School (grade B), Morrilton Intermediate School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade C+), Riverview Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morrilton (grade B), Cedar Falls Township (grade A), Center Ridge (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,117
- Population: 10,205
- Median household income: $49,248
- Median home value: $99,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $657 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Centerpoint Elementary School (grade B+), Murfreesboro Elementary School (grade B), Kirby High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Glenwood Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Muddy Fork Township (grade A), Antoine Township (grade B+), White Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,090
- Population: 17,024
- Median household income: $58,695
- Median home value: $125,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $749 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Dewitt Middle School (grade B+), Dewitt Elementary School (grade B), Dewitt High School (grade B)
- 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: Stuttgart (grade B), DeWitt (grade B minus), Bayou Meto Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 1,087
- Population: 77,118
- Median household income: $51,144
- Median home value: $150,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $793 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Ahlf Junior High School (grade A), Westside Elementary School (grade A minus), Southwest Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Harding Academy (grade A minus), Crosspointe Preparatory (grade A minus), Liberty Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Searcy (grade A minus), Beebe (grade B), Judsonia (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,062
- Population: 12,024
- Median household income: $58,627
- Median home value: $108,200 (84% own)
- Median rent: $683 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Oscar Hamilton Elementary School (grade B+), Ashdown High School (grade B minus), Margaret Daniels Primary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: New Faith Tabernacle Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Ashdown (grade B+), Jeff Davis Township (grade B+), Jackson Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,032
- Population: 40,361
- Median household income: $50,012
- Median home value: $110,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $750 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Armorel Elementary School (grade A minus), Buffalo Island Central East Elementary School (grade A minus), Gosnell Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Delta School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Gosnell (grade B), Manila (grade B), Blytheville (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,031
- Population: 60,593
- Median household income: $56,702
- Median home value: $154,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $789 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkview Elementary School (grade A minus), Northridge Middle School (grade A minus), Oliver Springs Elementary (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Van Buren (grade A minus), Alma (grade B minus), Van Buren Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,003
- Population: 74,292
- Median household income: $68,078
- Median home value: $169,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $944 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Mountain Springs Elementary School (grade A minus), Cabot Freshman Academy (grade A minus), Cabot Junior High North (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: New Horizon Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Austin (grade A), Cabot (grade A minus), Ward (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 848
- Population: 15,913
- Median household income: $53,567
- Median home value: $99,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $700 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Dequeen Junior High School (grade A minus), Dequeen High School (grade A minus), Dequeen Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Legacy Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: De Queen (grade B+), Bear Creek Township (grade B+), Gillham (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 823
- Population: 21,469
- Median household income: $48,071
- Median home value: $143,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $690 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Arkadelphia High School (grade C+), Gurdon High School (grade C+), Peake Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Clark County Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Arkadelphia (grade B), Caddo Valley (grade B+), Caddo Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 787
- Population: 28,362
- Median household income: $56,826
- Median home value: $169,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $751 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Green Forest Elementary School (grade B+), Eureka Springs High School (grade B), Eureka Springs Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Clear Spring School (grade unavailable), The Academy of Excellence (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Berryville (grade B), Green Forest (grade B minus), Prairie Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 755
- Population: 22,707
- Median household income: $47,441
- Median home value: $123,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $690 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Emerson Elementary School (grade A), Taylor Elementary School (grade A), Taylor High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Columbia Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Magnolia (grade B), Emerson (grade A minus), McNeil (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 638
- Population: 100,021
- Median household income: $54,229
- Median home value: $166,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $913 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (grade A+), Lakeside Intermediate School (grade A), Lakeside High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Gospel Light Christian School (grade B+), Christian Ministries Academy (grade C), St. John Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hot Springs (grade B+), Rockwell (grade B), Piney (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 551
- Population: 38,815
- Median household income: $49,745
- Median home value: $110,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $775 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkers Chapel Elementary School (grade A minus), Hugh Goodwin Elementary School (grade A minus), Smackover Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: West Side Christian School (grade A minus), Maranatha Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: El Dorado (grade B+), Boone Township (grade A), El Dorado Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 474
- Population: 63,475
- Median household income: $51,678
- Median home value: $152,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $810 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Center Valley Elementary School (grade A), Sequoyah Elementary School (grade A), Pottsville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Valley Christian School (grade B+), St. John Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Russellville (grade A), Pottsville (grade A minus), Illinois Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 303
- Population: 111,038
- Median household income: $55,169
- Median home value: $182,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $870 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley View Elementary School (grade A), Brookland Elementary School (grade A minus), Valley View Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Ridgefield Christian School (grade A minus), Blessed Sacrament School (grade unavailable), Montessori School of Jonesboro (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Jonesboro (grade B+), Brookland (grade B+), Gilkerson Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 300
- Population: 123,988
- Median household income: $73,236
- Median home value: $194,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $948 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Bethel Middle School (grade A), Benton High School (grade A), Perrin Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Arkansas Christian Academy (grade C), Avilla Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bryant (grade A), Alexander (grade A), Salem (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 241
- Population: 398,322
- Median household income: $58,326
- Median home value: $187,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $985 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Central High School (grade A), LISA Academy North Middle-High School - High School (grade A), Maumelle Charter Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pulaski Academy (grade A+), The Episcopal Collegiate School (grade A+), Little Rock Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Hillcrest (grade A+), River Mountain (grade A+), Downtown (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 191
- Population: 124,611
- Median household income: $61,273
- Median home value: $195,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $931 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenbrier Middle School (grade A), Conway High School (grade A), Greenbrier Springhill Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Conway Christian School (grade A minus), St. Joseph School (grade B+), COMPASS ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Conway (grade A), Greenbrier (grade A minus), Mayflower (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 165
- Population: 128,184
- Median household income: $54,047
- Median home value: $154,900 (60% own)
- Median rent: $805 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwood Junior High School (grade A), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), East Pointe Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Union Christian Academy (grade A), Immaculate Conception Elementary School (grade unavailable), Christ the King Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Greenwood (grade A), Fort Smith (grade A minus), Barling (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 123
- Population: 247,331
- Median household income: $61,985
- Median home value: $235,500 (55% own)
- Median rent: $935 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy Jones Center (Springdale) (grade A+), Haas Hall Academy (grade A+), Hellstern Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian School (grade A), Fayetteville Christian School (grade A minus), The New School (grade B+)
- Top places: Johnson (grade A+), Fayetteville (grade A), Elm Springs (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 35
- Population: 286,528
- Median household income: $85,269
- Median home value: $254,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,113 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Haas Hall Academy at the Lane (Rogers) (grade A+), Fulbright Junior High School (grade A+), Evening Star Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Thaden School (grade A+), Ozark Adventist Academy (grade A minus), Providence Classical Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Bentonville (grade A+), Cave Springs (grade A+), Centerton (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.