So, you’re curious about living in Arkansas? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Arkansas.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Arkansas matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Arkansas is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Arkansas
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Arkansas is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Arkansas:
- Lower cost of living.
- Taxes that are less burdensome than other states like California and New York.
- Cheaper housing prices compared to other parts of the country.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Arkansas:
- Problems with natural disasters such as tornadoes or earthquakes.
- It also gets very hot during summer months.
- Good jobs can be harder to find here, but opportunities do exist.
Read More: Is Arkansas a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Arkansas
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Arkansas? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Arkansas!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Arkansas.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Arkansas:
- Batesville
- Bentonville
- Little Rock
Read More: Best Places to Live in Arkansas
Checklist for Moving to Arkansas
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Arkansas. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Arkansas.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Arkansas:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Arkansas driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Arkansas
- Getting Arkansas car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Arkansas and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Arkansas.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Arkansas and your previous home state.
Visit your Arkansas Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Arkansas Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Arkansas.
Things to Know About Living in Arkansas
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Arkansas, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Arkansas
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Arkansas ranks 6th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 88.8, meaning it’s a relatively cheaper place to live.
Here is how Arkansas scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 92.5
- Housing: 75.6
- Utilities: 90.7
- Transportation: 91
- Health: 85.4
- Miscellaneous: 97.4
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Arkansas
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Arkansas from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Arkansas’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.5%, with an average local rate of 3.01% (the highest local sales tax rate is 5.13%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 9.51%.
Check with the Arkansas tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Arkansas
If you own or plan to own real estate in Arkansas, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Arkansas ranks 11th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .62%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Arkansas tax office for the most current tax rates.
Arkansas’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Arkansas is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Arkansas ranks 35th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Finance and insurance
- Transportation and warehousing
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
The top employer in Arkansas is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Arkansas
Our Arkansas moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Arkansas is Hot Springs National Park.
National Parks that you can visit in Arkansas include:
- Hot Springs National Park
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Arkansas
Arkansas is the 25th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Missouri, to its south is Louisiana, to its east is Tennessee and Mississippi, and to its west is Oklahoma.
What is the capital of Arkansas?
The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock.
Little Rock is located in Pulaski County with a population of 193,524.
What is the population of Arkansas?
The population of Arkansas based on 2020 US Census data is 3,011,524.
What is the largest city in Arkansas?
The largest city in Arkansas is Little Rock.
What is the size of Arkansas?
Arkansas is 53,179 square miles, making it the 29th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Arkansas?
The state motto of Arkansas is: Regnat populus
What is the state bird of Arkansas?
The state bird of Arkansas is the Northern mockingbird.
What is the state flower of Arkansas?
The state flower of Arkansas is the Apple blossom.
What is the state tree of Arkansas?
The state tree of Arkansas is the Loblolly Pine.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Arkansas?
The minimum wage in Arkansas is $11.00 per hour.
What is the median income in Arkansas?
The median annual household salary in Arkansas is $47,062.