Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 27,176, settled in 1900. Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
Trash & recyclingCenterton is one of the best-graded places in America: an A+, ranked 3rd of 123 in Arkansas. Its schools outperform 98% of the state's, the median household earns $116K, and CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 81% of the country. Its lowest mark, a B−, is in cost of living. On safety, just 4 of Arkansas’ 149 towns do better. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Only 12 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score lower on history.
Where Centerton beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Centerton Gamble Elementary | K–4 | 725 |
| Grimsley Junior High School | 7–8 | 846 |
| Bentonville West High School | 9–12 | 2,661 |
9,515 counted in 2010 and 17,792 in 2020; an estimated 27,176 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 52.1% since 2020, after 87% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Centerton is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 212 in 1920, 17,792 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Centerton, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Centerton.
Centerton is among the three healthiest towns in Arkansas, has schools in the top 5% of Arkansas and fares better on crime within Arkansas than nationally.
Its A+ ranks #1 of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade for schools.
Its public schools are run by the Bentonville School District. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Bentonville West High School, with 2,661 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grimsley Junior High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 846 | A |
| Bentonville West High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,661 | A− |
| Centerton Gamble ElementaryTop results in townGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 725 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
The median property tax bill is $2,031, against $1,040 across Arkansas, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
At $1,465 a month, Centerton’s median rent is above both the Arkansas town median ($875 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The typical Centerton home is worth about $346,000, about the same as a year ago, 54% above the Arkansas typical home.
| Centerton | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,465 a month | $875 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 60% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
5.9 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Centerton Sportsplex, at 23 acres.
| Centerton | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.2% | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Centerton Sportsplex | — | 23 |
| 2. Lightning Soccer Park | — | 16 |
| 3. Lake Centerton | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
It ranks #3 of the 123 Arkansas towns we grade on the CDC estimates behind the Health Grade. Its widest gap with Arkansas is heart disease: 3.5% of its 11,988 adults have heart disease, against 7.7% statewide.
26% of Centerton adults have high blood pressure, against 41% in Arkansas’ towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 7.2% of adults have diabetes in Centerton. Centerton beats the Arkansas average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
| Centerton | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 41% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.2% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 16% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 16% |
| What stands out | Centerton | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 3.5% | 7.7% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.5% | 18.6% |
| More binge drinkers | 19.2% | 14.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
At 8.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 97% of Arkansas’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 139 to 88 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The property crime rate in Centerton is 2.4 per 1,000 residents. Among 106 Arkansas towns, just 9 have a lower violent crime rate than Centerton.
| Centerton | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 2.4 per 1,000 residents | 17.9 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 1.4 per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 1.7 |
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Centerton has 1,623 jobs for its 9,608 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here grew from 573 in 2013 to 1,623.
Most working residents leave Centerton for work: only 3% work in town. 5.5% of Centerton residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Centerton has added 1,050 jobs, to 1,623 in 2023.
| Centerton | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $116,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 17% | 6.1% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.7% | 22% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The Bentonville 4 S weather station, 5 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 195 days: longer than most of the country, but shorter than 87% of Arkansas places with climate records. The Bentonville 4 S weather station, 5 miles away, records that about 46 days a year reach 90°: more than most of the country, but fewer than 88% of Arkansas places with climate records.
Centerton has chilly winters and warm summers. Centerton’s July high is 89°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Centerton since 2017.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Centerton. Close and well known come first.
6 mi MuseumCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art
21 mi Stadium & arenaDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
32 mi LandmarkChrist of the Ozarks
21 mi Stadium & arenaBud Walton Arena
14 mi National Military ParkPea Ridge National Military Park132K visitors a year
40 mi State parkDevil's Den State ParkCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art: Charvex, CC0 · Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium: Bobak at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Christ of the Ozarks: Bobak Ha'Eri, Public domain · Bud Walton Arena: ~ (The Rebel At) ~, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pea Ridge National Military Park: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Devil's Den State Park: jaystout, CC BY 2.0
2 within 15 miles of the center of Centerton
About 5 of every 100 Centerton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas.
Where Centerton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Arkansas, United States
Centerton is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located west of Bentonville on Highway 102, Centerton has grown from a railroad stop and fruit orchard community in the early 20th century into a suburban bedroom community within the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas (NWA) region. The city's population has grown from 491 in 1990 to 27,176 in 2025. Centerton is considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in Arkansas and consistently ranks amongst the safest cities in the state.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
2 towns share a border with Centerton.
| Town | AR rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerton | #3 | A+ | B− | A− | A+ | A− |
| Bentonville | #6 | A | C+ | B− | A+ | A |
| Highfill | #2 | A+ | B | A− | A+ | B+ |
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes, by almost any measure. Centerton grades A+ overall, better than 95% of U.S. towns and #3 of 123 in Arkansas. It grades A− for health, A− for safety and A+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
