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Bentonville, AR

Stretch

Living in Bentonville, AR costs about 18% more than the national average (Cost Index: 118). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $482,175 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $108,465, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Bentonville sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Bentonville.

Monthly Housing
$1,566/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
17%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,973/mo
After housing and debt · $2,324/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: HighHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ZILLOWBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 23%
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Cost Index
118
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$482,175
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $370,700
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,566/mo
Zillow ZORI Market Rate • Census ACS: $1,238/mo
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$108,465
National: $78,538
Population
56,326
Purchasing Power
117
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
159 / 100
59% above average
Rent Index
116 / 100
16% above average
Goods & Groceries
94 / 100
6% cheaper than average
Utilities
75 / 100
25% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
95 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
118
Expensive · 18% above average

Bentonville Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $482,175 and Arkansas's property tax rate of 0.62%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$108,465
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
17%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.4x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Bentonville looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Bentonville, AR

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,989
Monthly Impact
$249
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.62%
National avg: ~1.00%

Arkansas Place Tax Context

Tax TypeArkansasNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.62%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate4.4%~5.0%
State Sales Tax9.47%~5.0%

Compare Bentonville to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Bentonville, AR
118
116
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Bentonville, AR: 159
Rent Prices
116

FAQ: Living in Bentonville

Is Bentonville, AR an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Bentonville is about 18% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 118. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $482,175, and monthly rents average roughly $1,566. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Bentonville fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,566, while local median household income is $108,465. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 17% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Bentonville, AR?+

Arkansas has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 4.4%. The effective property tax rate is 0.62%. On a home worth $482,175, that translates to roughly $2,989 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.47% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Bentonville, AR?+

The typical monthly rent in Bentonville is around $1,566. That's about 16% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $482,175, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Bentonville, AR?+

The median home in Bentonville is valued at $482,175. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,438/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 50% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Bentonville?+

Grocery prices in Bentonville are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 75). Both help keep your monthly expenses lower than in many parts of the country.

What is Bentonville, AR like to live in?+

Bentonville is a smaller city with a population of about 56,326. The median age of residents is 31.9, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 6.27%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Arkansas

If Bentonville feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Arkansas

Use these city pages when you want to compare Bentonville against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly