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Living in
Bella Vista.
About
Life in Bella Vista
Bella Vista appeals primarily to established households and retirees rather than young professionals or families with young children. The median household income of about $88,000 sits well above national averages, unemployment is exceptionally low at 3.9%, and home values around $296,700 reflect a stable, affluent community. The flip side is that this is a car-dependent suburban environment spread across 47 square miles—you'll need a vehicle for daily life, and the average commute to jobs in Bentonville or Rogers runs about 27 minutes.
Bella Vista at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
51.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Population Growth
+14.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bella Vista: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bella Vista, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.1%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.6%
of residents
65 and Older
31.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.5%
of households
Married Couples
63.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 47% above AR average
Rent, home values, and income in Bella Vista
In Bella Vista, rent runs 47% above the AR average, and home values are 58% above the AR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
24.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,796
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
88.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $357,432 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AR
Unemployment in Bella Vista
Unemployment in Bella Vista is close to the AR average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bella Vista Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.9 min avg
How Bella Vista residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bella Vista, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bella Vista runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
167.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
375.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bella Vista Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Benton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Benton County, which includes Bella Vista, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $947,000 |
| 2024 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111.4M |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $242,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Hail | $150,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Hail | $515,000 |
| 2019 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.6M |
| 2018 | 15 | Hail | $66,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Benton County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, AR (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 34 miles from Bella Vista) is typically good — 304 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
304
per year
Moderate Days
61
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Washington County, AR (34 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bella Vista has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.1"
Annual Snowfall
12.5"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
78
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 29°F | 2.81" |
| Feb | 54°F | 33°F | 2.66" |
| Mar | 63°F | 41°F | 3.92" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 4.82" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 6.21" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 93°F | 69°F | 3.93" |
| Aug | 92°F | 68°F | 3.47" |
| Sep | 84°F | 60°F | 4.45" |
| Oct | 73°F | 50°F | 4.56" |
| Nov | 61°F | 40°F | 3.93" |
| Dec | 51°F | 32°F | 3.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bella Vista
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bella Vista's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 11.1 mi away · Gravette
Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Rogers
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bella Vista
Bella Vista's student/teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 41.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pea Ridge National Military Park, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bella Vista
Bella Vista has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pea Ridge National Military Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
13 mi awayGeorge Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
36 mi awayWilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
65 mi awayFort Smith National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayBuffalo National River
National River
81 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bella Vista
Bella Vista Public Library
11 Dickens Place, Bella Vista
Cities Near Bella Vista
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bella Vista?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bella Vista FAQ
Is Bella Vista, Arkansas affordable?⌄
Bella Vista's median rent is $1,395/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $88,055/year. Median home value is $296,700.
Is Bella Vista, Arkansas safe?⌄
Bella Vista's violent crime rate was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 376 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bella Vista, Arkansas?⌄
Bella Vista has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bella Vista, Arkansas?⌄
The cost of living in Bella Vista is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,395/month and median household income is $88,055/year. The median home value is $296,700. About 25% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bella Vista, Arkansas?⌄
The average commute in Bella Vista is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from