Northern Arkansas

[AerynLee]

So I took a quiz on Findyourspot.com (warning, you have to give more info that I'd prefer to get your results) and out of the top 20 places it said I should live 6 of them were in Arkansas. After getting past the phantom banjo music I did a quick housing search on Realtor.com and I actually liked what I saw in there. Cheap houses in beautiful country.

Does anyone here live in northern Arkansas? What do you think of it? Pros/cons?

We like the country with hills/mountains, trees, good hiking, and a lack of neighbors. We are both introverted so we don't care about the social scene. We do tend to be left leaning politically but aren't the types to get into conversations about it. We're not particularly religious but again we don't really talk about it. I like changing seasons but generally wish spring and fall would last longer with shorter summers and winters but I'm strangely getting better about handling both while DH is getting whinier about both :)

[Static Void]

My (extremely left) spouse has family in Arkansas, near Bentonville, so I have visited there with her many times, from CA. It is beautiful there! It is a place I would consider living. There are increasing numbers of hiking/biking trails (a good trend which seems fairly widespread, thankfully), though it's still niche.

Also, there are conveniently located WalMarts. (Corporate HQ, and the main economic driver of the area.)

That area is also recently home to a world-class art museum, Crystal Bridges. Check it out.

And not to be morbid... but they have a very good elder care, and hospice, system there, as well.

[ruraljuror]

Northern Arkansas is wonderful, as is Central Arkansas where I live. Check out Eureka Springs - very hip and left leaning, although it can get overrun by tourists. Plenty of great secluded homes with views though. It gets pretty cold up there. Little Rock area is wonderful. River, nearby trails and fishing, and a great mix of urban and rural life. Strong arts and entertainment given that it's the state capital and center of activity.

[Westoftown]

We live in Bentonville, and moved here about 2 years ago from a larger city in another state.  Here are the pro's and cons as I see them.

Pros-
Crime is very low here, and there is a ton of outdoor activity(hiking, biking, trails, beautiful state parks).  Cost of living is low in housing, though state income taxes and sales taxes are fairly high.  There are few mosquitos here in the mountains so outdoors activities are enjoyable! Beautiful lakes nearby - you can live on a lake if you like for a reasonable amount - this is not possible in other places.  Bella Vista is a beautiful area but is still primarily a golf/retirement area.  The Bentonville Museum is world class(and free).  Trails are maintained by professional companies and it has a quaint downtown.  Its a good place to raise children.  We don't even lock our door sometimes.  There are 4 distinct seasons here.

Cons-
Everything in Bentonville has to do with Walmart.  IF you don't like Walmart, don't come here.  There are plenty of jobs - everyone either works for Walmart, a vendor, or other related company unless they are a doctor/dentist etc.  I miss having a variety of friends in diverse careers.  Its almost impossible to ride your bike to commute - everyone drives.  It is also growing rapidly - and the infrastructure hasn't caught up - so traffic is pretty bad.   You won't find any cool local bars or bands, and just chain restaurants.  I'm not big on that stuff, but I would like to have more occasionally.   I wish there were ways to gather with interesting people here - like book clubs, etc.

Overall its a really nice place with a reasonable cost of living.  I recommend it.  Hopefully soon I'll have the time to really take in more of these state parks, outdoor areas, lakes and rivers.







 

[Static Void]

I just read all this to the aforementioned very Left-Leaning-Spouse, and she says, "Tell them that I went to college in Fayetteville, and you'll find a lot more culture & cafes & arts there."

[AerynLee]

Thanks for the input! We're not planning on moving anywhere for another 5 years or so but now I'm kind of stupidly excited to check out Arkansas. DH however doesn't agree :P I can work anywhere with my degree, but he's a bit more limited so when I asked him if there were any places he knew of in Arkansas he gave me this raised-eyebrow-wtf-are-you-talking-about look...but then said there's something in Little Rock.

Not sure if any of you would be able to answer this and it may vary a lot on the area, but if we were to buy an acreage in a wooded/mountainy area would we have issues keeping hunters out? A lot of the listings I looked at talked about how great they were for hunters and I have less than no interest and don't want it on my land.

And Walmart- I laughed at how often "close to Walmart" was a selling point. One even said "within 15 minutes of TWO WALMARTS" (in caps). I have nothing against the company so I don't care it just made me giggle a little

[ruraljuror]

I've never heard of anyone having issues with hunters on their property. As a major attraction to the state, I believe hunting is well regulated/managed.

[Westoftown]

You will not have problems with people illegally hunting on your land.  I, however have 11 acres and there is wooded land adjoining mine.

A couple of hunters set out stands there and hunt deer, which I don't like as those are the same deer that come through my yard.

There are a lot of hunters and that type here - but they are law abiding as far as I know.