What it's like to live in Bella Vista
Bella Vista is a small city in Arkansas with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bella Vista deals with larger class sizes than the national average, hot summers, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Bella Vista compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bella Vista
Based on Bella Vista's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,790
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,800 a year
- 25% of Bella Vista renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,670
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,395/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,395 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $296,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $296,700 · 25% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 49% below US
167 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 376/100k · Bella Vista Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 16% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pea Ridge National Military Park (13 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bella Vista's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are hot summers and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,395/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Bella Vista
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Centerton →
8 mi away · pop. 21,920
Rent $1,465/mo · Income $115,713
Compare with Bella Vista →Moving to Bentonville →
8 mi away · pop. 58,249
Rent $1,344/mo · Income $112,792
Compare with Bella Vista →Not sure Bella Vista is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.