Bentonville, AR Cost of Living in 2026: Rent and Homes

Bentonville is the Benton County seat, home to Walmart’s headquarters and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, about 10 miles south of the Missouri line. The Census Bureau’s 2019 to 2023 estimates put the median gross rent at $1,238 a month and the median home value at $370,700, against a median household income of $108,465. This guide sets those figures next to 2026 costs for housing, transportation, healthcare and entertainment.

A Quick Picture of Bentonville

Bentonville sits in the northwest corner of Arkansas, about 10 miles south of the Missouri border, inside the broader Northwest Arkansas metro that includes Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. The city proper has a population of 56,326, with a downtown restaurant scene, city-run mountain bike trails and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

The median age here is 31.9 years. That is young for a city this size. The unemployment rate sits at just 2.7%, and the local economy is anchored by Walmart’s headquarters and the supplier companies that keep offices in Northwest Arkansas to work with it.

Education levels are notably high. 53.7% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35.0% nationally in the same Census survey. Bentonville’s poverty rate of 6.3% is well below the national rate of 12.4%.

Housing Costs: Renting in Bentonville

The Census Bureau’s 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey puts the median gross rent at $1,238/month. That is a median across all rental units, so asking rents on newer apartments can differ. The homeownership rate of 50.4% means roughly half of households rent.

Housing Costs: Buying in Bentonville

The median home value is $370,700 according to the ACS data. The national median in the same Census survey is $303,400, so Bentonville sits well above it. The city’s median household income of $108,465/year helps offset that gap for dual-income professional households.

Food and Groceries

Whole Foods Market has a store in Fayetteville, on North College Avenue.

For dining out, Tusk and Trotter at 110 SE A Street has served comfort food and cocktails in Bentonville for more than 10 years.

Benton County was dry for decades after Prohibition. Voters made it wet in 2012, allowing countywide retail alcohol sales.

Transportation

Bentonville is car-dependent. Full stop. There is no meaningful public transit system. Ozark Regional Transit runs fixed bus routes in Bentonville, a Bentonville/Rogers connector and an app-based on-demand service (in Bentonville on Saturdays only), but frequency and coverage are limited enough that it is not a practical daily commute solution for most residents. You will need a car.

Healthcare

Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers offers emergency care, cardiology, maternity, cancer care, neurology, orthopedics and surgery on one campus. Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville, a 128-bed acute care hospital with cardiac care including open-heart surgery, and a maternity center, is in the city itself, and Northwest Health also runs an emergency department in West Bentonville, on East Centerton Boulevard.

Entertainment and Lifestyle

This is where Bentonville genuinely punches above its weight. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art offers free general admission, supported by its endowment and a $20 million gift from Walmart. The Momentary, a contemporary art space run as an extension of Crystal Bridges, also has free general admission and hosts concerts and music festivals.

The mountain biking scene is the most significant draw for a certain type of resident. Bentonville Parks and Recreation maintains more than 28 miles of mountain bike trails, including Slaughter Pen, Park Springs Park and Blowing Springs, and the city says they draw thousands of riders from around the country each year.

For sports, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks play NCAA Division I sports in the SEC in nearby Fayetteville.

How Bentonville Compares to Nearby Cities

Fayetteville, AR (about 20 miles south)

Fayetteville is larger, with 97,227 residents in the 2019 to 2023 Census estimates, and is home to the University of Arkansas. The same survey puts its median home value at $322,500 and its median gross rent at $1,003 a month, both below Bentonville’s. Fayetteville has a college-town feel. Bentonville feels more corporate and polished. If you work at Walmart HQ or in the supplier ecosystem, Bentonville is the practical choice. If you prioritize college-town energy and a broader social scene, Fayetteville competes seriously.

Tulsa, OK (about 100 miles west)

Tulsa is a proper mid-size city with a population of about 412,000 in the 2019 to 2023 Census estimates. The same survey puts its median home value at $189,600 and its median gross rent at $998 a month, well below Bentonville’s. The tradeoff is fewer high-paying corporate jobs concentrated in one area.

Honest Pros and Cons of Living in Bentonville

The Real Advantages

• Job market concentration: The Walmart supplier ecosystem creates unusually strong demand for corporate professionals. The 2.7% unemployment rate is not an accident.
• Outdoor access: More than 28 miles of city mountain bike trails, plus the Razorback Greenway running through town.
• Free cultural institutions: Crystal Bridges and the Momentary both offer free general admission.
• Low taxes: Arkansas is not among the states whose cities levy a local income tax.
• Young, educated population: That 31.9 median age and 53.7% college-educated rate create a professional community that feels engaged and active.

The Real Drawbacks

• Corporate monoculture risk: A significant portion of the local economy orbits around one company. If Walmart shifts supplier requirements or moves functions elsewhere, the downstream effects are real.
• Car dependency: You cannot meaningfully live here without a reliable vehicle. Transit is not a viable alternative.
• Home prices: The Census median home value of $370,700 is well above the national median of $303,400.
• Summer heat: Arkansas summers are hot and humid. July is the hottest month, with an average high of 89°F.

Who Is Bentonville Right For?

The Corporate Relocator

If your employer is moving you to work with Walmart or one of the hundreds of supplier companies based in Northwest Arkansas, Bentonville is the obvious choice. The median household income of $108,465/year reflects a local economy built around professional salaries. You will find peers, a reasonable cost of living relative to that income, and a city that has invested in making itself livable for exactly this demographic.

The Outdoor-First Remote Worker

Remote workers who prioritize trail access and open space may find Bentonville a fit. If your salary is set by a higher-cost market, compare it against Bentonville’s Census medians: $1,238 a month in gross rent and $370,700 in home value.

The Young Family Watching Their Budget

The 6.3% poverty rate and 50.4% homeownership rate suggest a city where middle-class families can still buy homes and build stability. Public schools are run by the Bentonville School District, and the Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department maintains 22 parks and over 50 miles of trails.

The Arts-Oriented Professional

Crystal Bridges and the Momentary have quietly built something real here for people who care about art, music, and design. If you work in a creative or design field, Bentonville’s cultural infrastructure is surprisingly robust for a city of 56,326.

The Bottom Line

Bentonville’s median home value of $370,700 is above the national median, so it is not a bargain market. With a median household income of $108,465, the numbers work best for people earning a professional salary. The combination of a 2.7% unemployment rate, a young and educated population, free cultural institutions, and a large city trail network is the main draw. The city rewards people who come with clear eyes about its limitations: you will need a car, the job market revolves around one corporate sun, and summers are hot. Go in knowing that, and Bentonville is a very livable city for the right person.

Frequently Asked Questions