Salem
unincorporated, Saline County · 2,642 peopleStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C
ACost–SafetyASchoolsBHealthAJobsCWalkCHazards
Arkansas rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Arkansas
Salem ranks first of Arkansas’ 83 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: cost of living (A) and jobs & income (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C) is its lowest. 8 of the 83 (10%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
A+
#2Highfill
Benton County · 3,676 peopleStrongest: schools A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C−
BCostA−SafetyA+SchoolsB+HealthAJobsC−WalkB−Hazards
#5Cave Springs
Benton County · 6,701 peopleStrongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
C−CostASafetyA+SchoolsAHealthAJobsC−WalkC+Hazards
Where they are: Three of the top 10 are in Benton County.
All 83 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 123 Arkansas towns.
83 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1Salemunincorporated, Saline County · 2,642 people73.6top 2.5%A+Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C
2HighfillBenton County · 3,676 people71.4top 4.8%A+Strongest: schools A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C−
5Cave SpringsBenton County · 6,701 people69.5top 7.5%AStrongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
9AustinLonoke County · 4,017 people65.8top 15.0%AStrongest: jobs & income A, schools A−·lowest: walkability D
10ElkinsWashington County · 4,184 people65.2top 16.3%A−Strongest: schools A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
11HaskellSaline County · 4,362 people64.7top 17.3%A−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C−
12GreenwoodSebastian County · 9,793 people63.5top 20.2%A−Strongest: schools A+, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C
13PottsvillePope County · 3,326 people62.5top 22.8%A−Strongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: walkability D
15GravetteBenton County · 3,889 people59.9top 29.7%B+Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: walkability C−
17JohnsonWashington County · 3,684 people58.8top 32.5%B+Strongest: jobs & income A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C
18TontitownWashington County · 8,046 people57.7top 35.5%BStrongest: health A−, safety B+·lowest: cost of living C
19GreenbrierFaulkner County · 6,645 people57.3top 36.6%BStrongest: schools A+, health B·lowest: hazard risk C−
20GentryBenton County · 4,899 people57.1top 37.0%BStrongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability C
21Prairie GroveWashington County · 8,998 people56.8top 37.9%BStrongest: schools B+, safety B+·lowest: walkability C−
23LavacaSebastian County · 2,528 people56.5top 38.8%BStrongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability C−
25ViloniaFaulkner County · 4,894 people54.4top 44.2%BStrongest: schools A, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk D
27Little FlockBenton County · 3,039 people53.7top 46.1%B−Strongest: schools A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C
29CharlestonFranklin County · 2,760 people52.4top 49.9%B−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools A−·lowest: health C
30Elm SpringsWashington County · 2,852 people52.0bottom 49.0%B−Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B·lowest: walkability C−
33Shannon HillsSaline County · 4,829 people50.8bottom 45.8%B−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability D−
34CorningClay County · 3,065 people50.4bottom 44.8%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, schools B+·lowest: health D
35Gibsonunincorporated, Pulaski County · 4,167 people50.1bottom 43.9%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, health B·lowest: walkability D
36MenaPolk County · 5,607 people49.0bottom 41.0%C+Strongest: cost of living A, schools A·lowest: jobs & income D
37AtkinsPope County · 2,868 people48.7bottom 39.9%C+Strongest: cost of living A, schools B+·lowest: walkability C−
38SouthsideIndependence County · 4,274 people48.5bottom 39.3%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, schools A−·lowest: health D
40WardLonoke County · 7,258 people47.9bottom 37.7%C+Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk D
41ParisLogan County · 3,357 people47.8bottom 37.4%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, schools A−·lowest: safety D
42BrooklandCraighead County · 4,697 people47.7bottom 37.2%C+Strongest: schools A−, health B·lowest: walkability C−
43BeebeWhite County · 9,377 people47.4bottom 36.3%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
44ManilaMississippi County · 3,773 people47.4bottom 36.3%C+Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health D
45DardanelleYell County · 4,521 people46.4bottom 33.9%CStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk D
47De QueenSevier County · 6,045 people45.7bottom 32.1%CStrongest: schools A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
48Lake CityCraighead County · 2,796 people45.6bottom 31.9%CStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D
49GosnellMississippi County · 2,663 people45.2bottom 30.7%CStrongest: schools A, cost of living A−·lowest: walkability D−
51SheridanGrant County · 5,406 people45.0bottom 30.4%CStrongest: cost of living B+, schools B·lowest: jobs & income C−
53Landmarkunincorporated, Pulaski County · 3,948 people44.7bottom 29.5%CStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
54HuntsvilleMadison County · 3,576 people44.7bottom 29.5%CStrongest: cost of living A+, schools B−·lowest: health D
55White HallJefferson County · 5,532 people44.7bottom 29.4%CStrongest: schools B+, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D
56BarlingSebastian County · 5,452 people44.3bottom 28.6%CStrongest: cost of living B, schools B−·lowest: health C
57East Endunincorporated, Saline County · 6,912 people44.3bottom 28.5%CStrongest: cost of living B, schools B·lowest: walkability D
58Cherokee VillageSharp County · 4,981 people44.2bottom 28.4%CStrongest: schools A, safety B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
59AlexanderSaline County · 3,801 people44.0bottom 27.8%CStrongest: schools A, cost of living A−·lowest: walkability D
60PiggottClay County · 3,508 people43.5bottom 26.6%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
64OzarkFranklin County · 3,628 people42.6bottom 24.6%C−Strongest: schools A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
65BoonevilleLogan County · 3,836 people42.6bottom 24.5%C−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
66Heber SpringsCleburne County · 7,323 people42.4bottom 24.1%C−Strongest: schools A, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk D
68ArkadelphiaClark County · 9,916 people41.6bottom 22.4%C−Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D
69Green ForestCarroll County · 3,246 people41.3bottom 21.8%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability A−·lowest: health D
70ClintonVan Buren County · 2,511 people40.6bottom 20.3%C−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
72Mountain ViewStone County · 2,940 people39.0bottom 17.1%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, schools B+·lowest: health D
73Rockwellunincorporated, Garland County · 3,986 people38.3bottom 15.8%C−Strongest: schools B, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D
75Pineyunincorporated, Garland County · 4,458 people37.7bottom 14.8%DStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D−
77BonoCraighead County · 2,858 people37.1bottom 13.7%DStrongest: schools B, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D
81LonokeLonoke County · 4,299 people35.4bottom 11.1%DStrongest: cost of living A+, schools C+·lowest: safety D
82DeWittArkansas County · 2,791 people35.4bottom 11.1%DStrongest: cost of living B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
83AlmaCrawford County · 6,071 people35.2bottom 10.8%DStrongest: schools B+, cost of living C+·lowest: health C−
84NashvilleHoward County · 3,945 people34.9bottom 10.5%DStrongest: schools B+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
85MorriltonConway County · 7,195 people34.8bottom 10.3%DStrongest: cost of living B+, schools B·lowest: health D−
86AshdownLittle River County · 4,135 people33.7bottom 9.1%DStrongest: cost of living A, schools B−·lowest: health D
87Walnut RidgeLawrence County · 5,478 people33.5bottom 8.8%DStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk D
89Bald KnobWhite County · 2,548 people32.2bottom 7.1%DStrongest: cost of living B, schools C+·lowest: health D−
92PocahontasRandolph County · 7,622 people31.4bottom 6.2%DStrongest: cost of living A−, schools C+·lowest: health D−
93ClarksvilleJohnson County · 9,632 people31.4bottom 6.2%DStrongest: walkability B, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D
94Horseshoe BendIzard County · 2,623 people31.2bottom 6.1%DStrongest: cost of living A−, schools C·lowest: jobs & income D−
95HoxieLawrence County · 2,568 people31.2bottom 6.1%DStrongest: cost of living B+, schools C+·lowest: health D−
97WarrenBradley County · 5,146 people31.1bottom 6.0%DStrongest: cost of living B, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
98TrumannPoinsett County · 7,527 people29.8bottom 4.7%D−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability C+·lowest: health D−
99BerryvilleCarroll County · 5,813 people29.8bottom 4.6%D−Strongest: hazard risk B−, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
100WaldronScott County · 3,387 people29.6bottom 4.4%D−Strongest: cost of living B, schools C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
101North Crossettunincorporated, Ashley County · 2,556 people29.3bottom 4.2%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: health D−
103PrescottNevada County · 2,949 people28.8bottom 3.8%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability C·lowest: health D−
104MonticelloDrew County · 8,269 people28.5bottom 3.7%D−Strongest: hazard risk B, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D−
106FordyceDallas County · 3,141 people28.2bottom 3.5%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D−
107WynneCross County · 7,884 people28.0bottom 3.3%D−Strongest: schools B, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
110StuttgartArkansas County · 7,525 people26.1bottom 2.1%D−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B·lowest: safety D−
112HopeHempstead County · 8,445 people24.0bottom 1.3%D−Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk C+·lowest: safety D−
113OsceolaMississippi County · 6,450 people23.8bottom 1.2%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability C−·lowest: health D−
114NewportJackson County · 8,193 people23.4bottom 1.1%D−Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D−
116CrossettAshley County · 4,454 people23.2bottom 1.0%D−Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B−·lowest: health D
119McGeheeDesha County · 3,389 people21.6bottom 0.7%D−Strongest: cost of living C+, schools C+·lowest: health D−
120Helena-West HelenaPhillips County · 8,216 people19.2bottom 0.3%D−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B−·lowest: health D−
121DumasDesha County · 3,476 people19.2bottom 0.3%D−Strongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk C·lowest: health D−
123MariannaLee County · 3,253 people12.9bottom 0.1%D−Strongest: cost of living C+, walkability C−·lowest: health D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Arkansas. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Arkansas?
Among 83 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Salem (Saline County) ranks first, with an A+; cost of living (A) and jobs & income (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C) is its lowest. Highfill and Cave Springs follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Arkansas. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (83 in Arkansas). 78 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Arkansas page.
Go deeper
All Arkansas rankings →More Arkansas lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live123 towns · #1 SalemMost affordable towns123 towns · #1 LonokeSafest towns105 towns · #1 Cave SpringsTowns with the best schools123 towns · #1 Bentonville and Cave Springs and Centerton and GreenbrierHealthiest towns123 towns · #1 Cave SpringsBest towns for jobs & income123 towns · #1 JohnsonMost walkable towns123 towns · #1 FayettevilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk123 towns · #1 BentonvilleBest towns for the outdoors123 towns · #1 FayettevilleMost historic towns123 towns · #1 Hot SpringsTowns with the most civic life114 towns · #1 El DoradoTowns with the least snow113 towns · #1 OzarkDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns113 towns · #1 GravetteDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters126 towns · #1 Crossett and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers126 towns · #1 Barling and Van BurenDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers126 towns · #1 Green Forest and HuntsvilleDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes123 towns · #1 Cave SpringsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes123 towns · #1 PrescottDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns111 towns · #1 TontitownDescribed, no letters
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