The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Arkansas
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 82 towns of 500–10,000 people in Arkansas. #1 is Cave Springs, AR.
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25Ward, Arkansas
Better for families than 73% of Arkansas towns
Ward is a city of 6,052 people in Lonoke County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for young professionals than 79% of Arkansas towns and more upscale than 72% of Arkansas towns.
6,052 people · Lonoke County · median home $189,100 · income $72,734 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow
Full Ward, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
24Alexander, Arkansas
Better for families than 76% of Arkansas towns
Alexander is a city of 3,385 people in Saline County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of Arkansas towns and more of a college town than 89% of Arkansas towns.
3,385 people · Saline County · median home $174,000 · income $57,250 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
23Corning, Arkansas
Better for families than 79% of Arkansas towns
Corning is a city of 3,227 people in Clay County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of Arkansas towns and better for first-time buyers than 78% of Arkansas towns.
3,227 people · Clay County · median home $89,500 · income $50,408 · Jan low 28°F · 5 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
22Cherokee Village, Arkansas
Better for families than 79% of Arkansas towns
Cherokee Village is a city of 4,780 people in Sharp County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Arkansas towns and better for a vacation home than 87% of Arkansas towns.
4,780 people · Sharp County · median home $94,600 · income $37,326 · Jan low 26°F · 7 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
21Charleston, Arkansas
Better for families than 80% of Arkansas towns
Charleston is a city of 2,588 people in Franklin County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Arkansas towns and easier by car than 81% of Arkansas towns.
2,588 people · Franklin County · median home $156,300 · income $56,600 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow
Full Charleston, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
20Manila, Arkansas
Better for families than 80% of Arkansas towns
Manila is a city of 3,682 people in Mississippi County, Arkansas. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Arkansas towns and more walkable than 93% of Arkansas towns.
3,682 people · Mississippi County · median home $172,000 · income $55,792 · Jan low 31°F · 3 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
19Brookland, Arkansas
Better for families than 82% of Arkansas towns
Brookland is a city of 4,064 people in Craighead County, Arkansas. It also ranks more of a college town than 88% of Arkansas towns and easier by car than 81% of Arkansas towns.
4,064 people · Craighead County · median home $169,200 · income $57,308 · Jan low 27°F · 4 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
18Salem, Arkansas
Better for families than 85% of Arkansas towns
Salem is a community of 2,544 people in Saline County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of Arkansas towns and better for young professionals than 82% of Arkansas towns.
2,544 people · Saline County · median home $202,100 · income $73,750 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow
Full Salem, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
17Gentry, Arkansas
Better for families than 85% of Arkansas towns
Gentry is a city of 3,790 people in Benton County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Arkansas towns and better for retirees than 75% of Arkansas towns.
3,790 people · Benton County · median home $186,100 · income $69,779 · Jan low 27°F · 11 in snow
Full Gentry, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
16Gibson, Arkansas
Better for families than 85% of Arkansas towns
Gibson is a community of 4,111 people in Pulaski County, Arkansas. It also ranks more of a college town than 92% of Arkansas towns and more upscale than 89% of Arkansas towns.
4,111 people · Pulaski County · median home $157,800 · income $66,496 · Jan low 32°F · 4 in snow
Full Gibson, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
15Gravette, Arkansas
Better for families than 88% of Arkansas towns
Gravette is a city of 3,547 people in Benton County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Arkansas towns and more upscale than 83% of Arkansas towns.
3,547 people · Benton County · median home $216,300 · income $68,214 · Jan low 29°F · 13 in snow
Full Gravette, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
14Farmington, Arkansas
Better for families than 89% of Arkansas towns
Farmington is a city of 7,584 people in Washington County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of Arkansas towns and better for young professionals than 92% of Arkansas towns.
7,584 people · Washington County · median home $304,800 · income $90,469 · Jan low 25°F · 7 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
13Lowell, Arkansas
Better for families than 90% of Arkansas towns
Lowell is a city of 9,839 people in Benton County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of Arkansas towns and better for young professionals than 93% of Arkansas towns.
9,839 people · Benton County · median home $284,200 · income $95,527 · Jan low 24°F · 10 in snow
Full Lowell, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
12Haskell, Arkansas
Better for families than 91% of Arkansas towns
Haskell is a city of 3,956 people in Saline County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Arkansas towns and better transit than 92% of Arkansas towns.
3,956 people · Saline County · median home $160,600 · income $85,758 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow
Full Haskell, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
11Shannon Hills, Arkansas
Better for families than 92% of Arkansas towns
Shannon Hills is a city of 4,490 people in Saline County, Arkansas. It also ranks more of a college town than 85% of Arkansas towns and better for first-time buyers than 72% of Arkansas towns.
4,490 people · Saline County · median home $170,900 · income $71,318 · Jan low 31°F · 3 in snow
Full Shannon Hills, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
10Prairie Grove, Arkansas
Better for families than 94% of Arkansas towns

Photo: Brandonrush (public domain, Wikimedia Commons) Prairie Grove is a city of 7,045 people in Washington County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Arkansas towns and more of a college town than 89% of Arkansas towns.
7,045 people · Washington County · median home $256,000 · income $70,701 · Jan low 25°F · 7 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
9Greenwood, Arkansas
Better for families than 94% of Arkansas towns
Greenwood is a city of 9,516 people in Sebastian County, Arkansas. It also ranks more of a college town than 96% of Arkansas towns and better for retirees than 91% of Arkansas towns.
9,516 people · Sebastian County · median home $182,900 · income $66,844 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow
Full Greenwood, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
8Pottsville, Arkansas
Better for families than 96% of Arkansas towns
Pottsville is a city of 3,140 people in Pope County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for cycling than 78% of Arkansas towns and more of a college town than 71% of Arkansas towns.
3,140 people · Pope County · median home $171,600 · income $68,558 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
7Tontitown, Arkansas
Better for families than 96% of Arkansas towns
Tontitown is a city of 4,301 people in Washington County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of Arkansas towns and better for young professionals than 89% of Arkansas towns.
4,301 people · Washington County · median home $430,500 · income $85,603 · Jan low 27°F · 9 in snow
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The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
6Elkins, Arkansas
Better for families than 97% of Arkansas towns
Elkins is a city of 3,602 people in Washington County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Arkansas towns and more upscale than 86% of Arkansas towns.
3,602 people · Washington County · median home $212,500 · income $81,789 · Jan low 25°F · 7 in snow
Full Elkins, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
5Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Better for families than 97% of Arkansas towns
Pea Ridge is a city of 6,559 people in Benton County, Arkansas. It also ranks better for cycling than 94% of Arkansas towns and better for first-time buyers than 93% of Arkansas towns.
6,559 people · Benton County · median home $297,500 · income $95,521 · Jan low 26°F · 10 in snow
Full Pea Ridge, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
4Austin, Arkansas
Better for families than 99% of Arkansas towns
Austin is a city of 3,460 people in Lonoke County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Arkansas towns and more of a college town than 84% of Arkansas towns.
3,460 people · Lonoke County · median home $220,500 · income $113,764 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow
Full Austin, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
3Vilonia, Arkansas
Better for families than 99% of Arkansas towns
Vilonia is a city of 4,288 people in Faulkner County, Arkansas. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Arkansas towns and easier by car than 95% of Arkansas towns.
4,288 people · Faulkner County · median home $232,700 · income $81,815 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow
Full Vilonia, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
2Greenbrier, Arkansas
Better for families than 99% of Arkansas towns
Greenbrier is a city of 5,707 people in Faulkner County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 87% of Arkansas towns and better for young professionals than 78% of Arkansas towns.
5,707 people · Faulkner County · median home $206,600 · income $57,214 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow
Full Greenbrier, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns. -
1Cave Springs, Arkansas
Better for families than 100% of Arkansas towns
Cave Springs is a city of 5,495 people in Benton County, Arkansas. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Arkansas towns and more of a college town than 96% of Arkansas towns.
5,495 people · Benton County · median home $460,300 · income $146,473 · Jan low 24°F · 10 in snow
Full Cave Springs, Arkansas profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Arkansas towns.
Price vs ranking
More Arkansas rankings
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- The 11 Quietest Small Towns in Arkansas
- The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Arkansas
- 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Cheapest Homes
- 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Mildest Winters
- The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Arkansas
- 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Arkansas
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)