A town of about 36,595 people in Saline County, part of the Little Rock area. Resident comments and photos are about Benton; job numbers cover the wider area.
What kind of place it is
Historic, Growing, Big-city feel
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Benton scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Historic
83 / 100
27 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
Growing
82 / 100
Growing faster than 82% of metros
Big-city feel
77 / 100
Big-city feel: 742,000 people in the metro, 4 buildings 20+ stories, 263 bus and train stops
Less so: lively, artsy, outdoorsy.
Want to know how Benton fits you? The 3-minute quiz checks it against what you want.
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Of about 5,005 rented homes in Benton, 96% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.
Under $1,000: 50%
$1,000 to $1,499: 40%
$1,500 to $1,999: 7%
$2,000 to $2,499: 2%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 2%
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Hiring movers
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving in as a renter
The middle rented home in Benton rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Arkansas: before and after
Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Arkansas DMV.
1,659 students · 11.8 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Daycare and preschool
Arkansas keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
Public, 4-year · 3,275 students · $8,868 in-state, $16,506 out-of-state
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$230,108
What a typical home sells for across the Little Rock area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 11% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $89 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 89.4 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 25 min at rush hour
To downtown Little Rock, AR, 24 miles. About 25 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
23 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $3,733 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in AR. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
2 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
12.2 per 100,000 people a year
16 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. AR average: 11.5 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 17.1 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 1,055 people without housing in the Little Rock/Central Arkansas area (4 counties): 611 in shelters and 444 outside, up from 1,016 in 2024. AR: 8.8 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$76,534
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.63% of home value a year
About $630 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 3.70%
AR's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.