Bentonville, Arkansas

What It Is Like to Retire in Bentonville

Bentonville is world famous as the headquarters town for retailing giant Walmart. Not only do the company's employees impact the town, but many of its suppliers have also moved their headquarters here to be near the center of the action. The brand new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is huge and drawing rave reviews - and gets millions of visitors each year. A new film festival in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media concentrates on entries from female and minority producers. The new Midtown Center will soon offer more than 50,000 sq.ft. of retail and office space. The Hunt Tower has 900,000 sq.ft. of office space. Another market district is being developed to the southeast on 25 acres. This area of Arkansas has great beauty and recreational resources.

The presence of so many talented people makes Bentonville a very dynamic place - its population has grown 55% from 2010, it is now over 54,900 in 2019. If you have any doubts about the attractions that Bentonville has you should read the NY Times article about it, "Bustle Where Once There Was Desolation". Photo in the public domain of Crystal Bridges Museum courtesy of Wikipedia and Charvex, photo in the public domain of Bentonville High School campus courtesy of Wikipedia and playwrite26.

Where to Retire in Bentonville and Home Prices

See link at top right for "Bentonville Active Adult Communities" for a link to one of America's largest retirement communities, Bella Vista. It is a fairly safe assumption that many of the career people recruited to this area will decide to remain here in retirement, so look for many active adult communities to be built here in the future. A large mixed use market district is planned for 25 acres southeast of the downtown square. Median sale price in mid-2021 was 306,397, according to Zillow.com, but neighborhoods have a lot to do with prices.

What Is Special about Bentonville

Being the headquarters for Walmart has benefitted this town in many ways. Bentonville is now the home of Crystal Bridges, a $50-million museum that opened in 2011. Bentonville was selected by Newsmax as one the Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns. Same Walton's orginal five and dime store is located across from the town square, along with a visitors center. The Razorback Greenway will offer 36 miles of trails for bicyclists and joggers. Free bikes are available from the parks department.

What Is Not Special about Bentonville

If you don't like Walmart, you probably won't like living in Bentonville.

Who Will Like Retirement in Bentonville

Presumably a lot of Walmart executives and their suppliers will retire here. Increasingly a lot of people are attracted to this growing and cosmopolitan town.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Walmart and Walmart suppliers, many of whom have located here for better access to the world's largest retailer. The Crystal Bridges Museum and tourism are very important.

Climate and Physical Environment

Bentonville is located in northwest Arkansas, just south of Missouri and east of Oklahoma. There are a number of lakes in the area. The average Jan temp is in the mid 30s and the average July temp is in the high 70s.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Crystal Bridges Museum of Art is a very successful $50-million museum that opened in 2011. Its collection, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is attracting rave reviews from critics and visitors alike.  Admission to the 50,000 sq.ft. of exhibition space is free. One of its newest attractions is a Frank Lloyd Wright House, which was moved here from a flood-prone area of New Jersey. Bentonville and surrounding area has many major attractions dedicated to historic preservation and conservation, including Compton Gardens and the Civil War-era Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens. There is a farmers market on Saturdays and First Friday outdoor movie screenings at Lawrence Plaza. Oven & Tap, The Bike Rack Brewery, Hive, Eleven, and Tusk & Trotter are just some of the new and highly regarded restaurants.

Crime

The crime rate is below the U.S. average.

Medical facilities

Bates Medical Center is in Bentonville; other hospitals are in nearby towns like Rogers.

Transportation

Northwest Arkansas National Airport, about 10 miles away, provides air service. Razorback Greenway will offer 36 miles of trails for cyclists.

Valuable Links

Bentonville Arkansas Bentonville City-Data pageArkansas guide to retirement communities