What it's like to live in Van Buren
Van Buren is a small city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Van Buren deals with household incomes below the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, hot summers, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Low college degree attainment
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Van Buren compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Van Buren
Based on Van Buren's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,694
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,880 a year
- 38% of Van Buren renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$36,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,150
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 40% below US
$847/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $847 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $181,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $181,500 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Crawford County is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Crawford County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 36% below US
211 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 2102/100k · Van Buren Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 42% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Fort Smith National Historic Site (6 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Van Buren's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and college degree attainment below the national average. A year of median rent ($847/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Van Buren
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Fayetteville →
44 mi away · pop. 99,319
Rent $1,065/mo · Income $62,695
Compare with Van Buren →Moving to Siloam Springs →
52 mi away · pop. 18,699
Rent $1,003/mo · Income $72,065
Compare with Van Buren →Not sure Van Buren is the one?
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