What it's like to live in Centerton
Centerton is a small city in Arkansas with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Centerton deals with fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Centerton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Centerton
Based on Centerton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,930
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,600 a year
- 26% of Centerton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,850
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,465/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,465 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $338,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $338,500 · 26% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 35% below US
2.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 66% below US
111 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 203/100k · Centerton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 17% 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
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pea Ridge National Military Park (16 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Centerton's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,465/mo) equals 15% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Centerton
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Bentonville →
4 mi away · pop. 58,249
Rent $1,344/mo · Income $112,792
Compare with Centerton →Moving to Bella Vista →
8 mi away · pop. 31,697
Rent $1,395/mo · Income $88,055
Compare with Centerton →Not sure Centerton is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.