Best overall
Lonoke County
Overall score 73
Economy 71.6 / Affordability 71.7
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Arkansas
Compare counties in Arkansas by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 75 Arkansas counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Arkansas
Put Arkansas counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Arkansas rankings
Open the full Arkansas ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Arkansas county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Fulton County
Family score 78.2
Schools 93.6 / Safety 78.5
Best value
Clay County
Value score 80.7
Affordability 86 / Taxes 86.1
Most affordable
Nevada County
Affordability 90
Typical home $83,300
Best schools
Fulton County
Schools 93.6
Safety 78.5 / Economy 39.2
Safest
Sebastian County
Safety 95.6
Schools 42.5 / Peace 77.8
Low taxes
Searcy County
Taxes 91.1
Affordability 53.5 / Typical home $183,762
Peace & quiet
Johnson County
Peace & Quiet 91.6
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Lonoke County
Typical home $229,579
73
Overall
- 2Faulkner County
Typical home $250,364
72.2
Overall
- 3Grant County
Typical home $210,727
70.7
Overall
- 4Benton County
Typical home $385,660
69.9
Overall
- 5Sevier County
Typical home $168,694
69.6
Overall
Best counties for families in Arkansas
View full- 1Fulton County
Typical home $187,025
78.2
Family
- 2Faulkner County
Typical home $250,364
76.3
Family
- 3Lonoke County
Typical home $229,579
73.3
Family
- 4Pope County
Typical home $208,276
72.2
Family
- 5Boone County
Typical home $226,496
70.2
Family
Best value counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Clay County
Typical home $115,635
80.7
Value
- 2Logan County
Typical home $160,525
79.2
Value
- 3Calhoun County
Typical home $135,955
78.4
Value
- 4Yell County
Typical home $162,192
78.3
Value
- 5Lincoln County
Typical home $127,671
78
Value
Most affordable counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Nevada County
Typical home $83,300
90
Afford.
- 2Jackson County
Typical home $90,292
88.9
Afford.
- 3Woodruff County
Typical home $81,170
88.7
Afford.
- 4Ashley County
Typical home $83,337
88.2
Afford.
- 5Clay County
Typical home $115,635
86
Afford.
Best school counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Fulton County
Typical home $187,025
93.6
Schools
- 2Benton County
Typical home $385,660
86.1
Schools
- 3Boone County
Typical home $226,496
82
Schools
- 4Faulkner County
Typical home $250,364
81.7
Schools
- 5Saline County
Typical home $253,064
76
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Searcy County
Typical home $183,762
91.1
Taxes
- 2Montgomery County
Typical home $216,049
91.1
Taxes
- 3Sevier County
Typical home $168,694
90.8
Taxes
- 4Polk County
Typical home $186,265
90.6
Taxes
- 5Fulton County
Typical home $187,025
90.1
Taxes
Quietest counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Johnson County
Typical home $184,396
91.6
Quiet
- 2Yell County
Typical home $162,192
91
Quiet
- 3Drew County
Typical home $156,682
90.5
Quiet
- 4Jackson County
Typical home $90,292
90.2
Quiet
- 5Franklin County
Typical home $174,058
90.1
Quiet
Safest counties in Arkansas
View full- 1Sebastian County
Typical home $202,236
95.6
Safety
- 2Clark County
Typical home $163,298
92.6
Safety
- 3Clay County
Typical home $115,635
91.3
Safety
- 4Greene County
Typical home $190,017
91.1
Safety
- 5Craighead County
Typical home $214,721
89.4
Safety
Popular Arkansas county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Arkansas
The best county in Arkansas depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Arkansas
For best overall counties in Arkansas, Lonoke County, Faulkner County, and Grant County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Arkansas
For families, Fulton County, Faulkner County, and Lonoke County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Arkansas
For affordability-focused movers, Nevada County, Jackson County, and Woodruff County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Arkansas
For school-first households, Fulton County, Benton County, and Boone County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Arkansas
For lower tax-pressure searches, Searcy County, Montgomery County, and Sevier County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Arkansas
For quieter-living searches, Johnson County, Yell County, and Drew County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Arkansas
Compare county scale carefully in Arkansas; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Arkansas
What is the best county to live in Arkansas?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Lonoke County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Arkansas for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Fulton County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Arkansas?
Nevada County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Arkansas counties score well for schools or taxes?
Fulton County currently leads the school-score view, while Searcy County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Arkansas counties
Showing all 75 Arkansas counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lonoke County FIPS 05085 | 73 | 71.6 | 71.7 | 64.8 | 82.9 | 77.1 | 81.1 | $229,579 | $72,828 |
| 2 | Faulkner County FIPS 05045 | 72.2 | 67.8 | 58.9 | 81.7 | 84.1 | 77.2 | 76.5 | $250,364 | $67,289 |
| 3 | Grant County FIPS 05053 | 70.7 | 70.7 | 74.2 | 53.5 | 74.1 | 84.6 | 83.1 | $210,727 | $71,549 |
| 4 | Benton County FIPS 05007 | 69.9 | 91.7 | 48.8 | 86.1 | 43.1 | 77.9 | 66.7 | $385,660 | $93,506 |
| 5 | Sevier County FIPS 05133 | 69.6 | 68.8 | 68.6 | 51 | 78.1 | 90.8 | 85 | $168,694 | $53,527 |
| 6 | Fulton County FIPS 05049 | 67.5 | 39.2 | 56.7 | 93.6 | 78.5 | 90.1 | 80.2 | $187,025 | $42,241 |
| 7 | Boone County FIPS 05009 | 67.4 | 62.1 | 57.8 | 82 | 55.4 | 82.5 | 88.5 | $226,496 | $55,143 |
| 8 | Logan County FIPS 05083 | 67.1 | 64.2 | 81.3 | 32.1 | 77.9 | 83.4 | 85.6 | $160,525 | $58,555 |
| 9 | Yell County FIPS 05149 | 67.1 | 65.2 | 75.6 | 36.5 | 75.9 | 86.2 | 91 | $162,192 | $55,934 |
| 10 | Pope County FIPS 05115 | 67 | 51.2 | 64.4 | 71.2 | 76 | 80.5 | 88.3 | $208,276 | $57,344 |
| 11 | Polk County FIPS 05113 | 65.9 | 55.8 | 64.3 | 53.1 | 78.8 | 90.6 | 88.1 | $186,265 | $49,191 |
| 12 | Clay County FIPS 05021 | 65.7 | 45.5 | 86 | 31.1 | 91.3 | 86.1 | 85.6 | $115,635 | $51,481 |
| 13 | Franklin County FIPS 05047 | 65.6 | 65.2 | 75.8 | 55.2 | 40.7 | 87.3 | 90.1 | $174,058 | $55,886 |
| 14 | Prairie County FIPS 05117 | 65.2 | 52.1 | 72.8 | 44.3 | 84.7 | 81.9 | 83.5 | $150,731 | $51,646 |
| 15 | Perry County FIPS 05105 | 64.4 | 64.3 | 72.2 | 35.7 | 69 | 88.2 | 79.2 | $178,832 | $55,764 |
| 16 | Craighead County FIPS 05031 | 64.2 | 59.5 | 60.3 | 45.5 | 89.4 | 75.9 | 83.4 | $214,721 | $59,548 |
| 17 | Saline County FIPS 05125 | 64.2 | 76.7 | 72.1 | 76 | 1.1 | 76.1 | 79.6 | $253,064 | $79,046 |
| 18 | Washington County FIPS 05143 | 63.9 | 76 | 36.3 | 54.6 | 89.3 | 77.7 | 74.5 | $350,006 | $70,639 |
| 19 | Sebastian County FIPS 05131 | 63.5 | 54.3 | 62.9 | 42.5 | 95.6 | 74.8 | 77.8 | $202,236 | $57,790 |
| 20 | Hot Spring County FIPS 05059 | 62.9 | 55 | 78.2 | 36.7 | 65.9 | 82.8 | 81 | $161,661 | $55,405 |
| 21 | Howard County FIPS 05061 | 62.6 | 57.9 | 67.4 | 32 | 80.1 | 84.1 | 89.4 | $156,006 | $45,603 |
| 22 | Crawford County FIPS 05033 | 62.1 | 56.6 | 68 | 28.1 | 86.8 | 81.2 | 84 | $216,287 | $64,132 |
| 23 | Independence County FIPS 05063 | 62 | 58.4 | 70.7 | 45 | 52.2 | 83.6 | 89.7 | $174,512 | $56,609 |
| 24 | Woodruff County FIPS 05147 | 61.9 | 39.7 | 88.7 | 29.6 | 83.2 | 69.5 | 88.4 | $81,170 | $48,158 |
| 25 | Cleveland County FIPS 05025 | 61.7 | 63 | 77 | 29.1 | 54.7 | 84.4 | 84.1 | $156,930 | $54,794 |
| 26 | White County FIPS 05145 | 61.7 | 55.4 | 62 | 47.8 | 66 | 86.1 | 85.7 | $203,388 | $55,249 |
| 27 | Randolph County FIPS 05121 | 61.3 | 50.6 | 80.3 | 28 | 65.8 | 87.5 | 86.8 | $139,860 | $50,911 |
| 28 | Baxter County FIPS 05005 | 61.1 | 47.9 | 49.9 | 67.7 | 68.4 | 85.5 | 86.6 | $229,075 | $48,452 |
| 29 | Jackson County FIPS 05067 | 61.1 | 37.3 | 88.9 | 45.4 | 56.3 | 75 | 90.2 | $90,292 | $44,218 |
| 30 | Cross County FIPS 05037 | 61 | 40.9 | 79.1 | 33.5 | 77.1 | 84 | 86.1 | $135,622 | $50,863 |
| 31 | Greene County FIPS 05055 | 61 | 49.9 | 69.2 | 24.5 | 91.1 | 83 | 87.1 | $190,017 | $57,839 |
| 32 | Conway County FIPS 05029 | 60.8 | 55.6 | 72 | 46.4 | 51 | 78 | 83.2 | $167,506 | $54,187 |
| 33 | Sharp County FIPS 05135 | 60.8 | 58.5 | 69 | 42.6 | 52.8 | 85.5 | 78 | $149,314 | $44,637 |
| 34 | Little River County FIPS 05081 | 60.7 | 53 | 78.4 | 13.4 | 83 | 87.5 | 79.6 | $150,019 | $53,344 |
| 35 | Mississippi County FIPS 05093 | 60.6 | 54.8 | 81.1 | 8.4 | 85.7 | 77.5 | 87.1 | $110,694 | $52,548 |
| 36 | Scott County FIPS 05127 | 60.6 | 61.9 | 68.9 | 20.2 | 70.9 | 89.1 | 85.3 | $149,974 | $43,270 |
| 37 | Columbia County FIPS 05027 | 60.5 | 45.8 | 80.6 | 23.7 | 80.1 | 79.1 | 84.1 | $136,071 | $55,334 |
| 38 | Calhoun County FIPS 05013 | 60.2 | 63.3 | 84.9 | 5.1 | 63 | 87.4 | 79 | $135,955 | $66,809 |
| 39 | Lawrence County FIPS 05075 | 59.6 | 37.3 | 77.8 | 21.7 | 89.1 | 87.9 | 86.3 | $125,438 | $44,882 |
| 40 | Pike County FIPS 05109 | 59.2 | 58.1 | 64.9 | 17.1 | 84.4 | 84.1 | 79.2 | $176,793 | $49,269 |
| 41 | Madison County FIPS 05087 | 59 | 75.8 | 48 | 31.9 | 57.5 | 89.9 | 80.4 | $271,361 | $56,798 |
| 42 | Arkansas County FIPS 05001 | 58.6 | 38.9 | 80.6 | 17.9 | 88.9 | 74 | 88 | $119,178 | $53,164 |
| 43 | Lincoln County FIPS 05079 | 58.6 | 45.7 | 82.2 | 6.3 | 83.6 | 84.3 | 87.6 | $127,671 | $51,778 |
| 44 | Dallas County FIPS 05039 | 58.5 | 46.6 | 82.6 | 4.1 | 89.1 | 79.2 | 82 | $103,786 | $42,500 |
| 45 | Clark County FIPS 05019 | 58.2 | 40.3 | 67.5 | 26.4 | 92.6 | 76.7 | 87.2 | $163,298 | $52,034 |
| 46 | Garland County FIPS 05051 | 57.8 | 53.2 | 52.5 | 49.1 | 61.2 | 84.1 | 79.3 | $244,727 | $57,181 |
| 47 | Izard County FIPS 05065 | 57 | 31 | 64.7 | 54.1 | 65.9 | 83.2 | 81 | $174,049 | $49,405 |
| 48 | Poinsett County FIPS 05111 | 57 | 45.5 | 75.3 | 14 | 74.5 | 84.8 | 86.1 | $128,400 | $46,707 |
| 49 | Carroll County FIPS 05015 | 56.9 | 62.1 | 45.4 | 31.4 | 75.9 | 80.8 | 85.4 | $266,461 | $54,230 |
| 50 | Hempstead County FIPS 05057 | 56.8 | 50.1 | 78.6 | 5.8 | 74.6 | 80.3 | 85.7 | $119,192 | $46,787 |
| 51 | Searcy County FIPS 05129 | 56.5 | 41.2 | 53.5 | 61.7 | 50.9 | 91.1 | 75.1 | $183,762 | $44,426 |
| 52 | Drew County FIPS 05043 | 56.2 | 37.7 | 63.2 | 25.8 | 87 | 82.6 | 90.5 | $156,682 | $42,824 |
| 53 | Van Buren County FIPS 05141 | 55 | 42.4 | 68.1 | 39 | 45.8 | 88.7 | 76.2 | $169,727 | $50,354 |
| 54 | Nevada County FIPS 05099 | 54.9 | 35.6 | 90 | 21.5 | 47.3 | 80.6 | 81.7 | $83,300 | $53,886 |
| 55 | Johnson County FIPS 05071 | 54.8 | 36.8 | 62.2 | 24.8 | 80.7 | 84.5 | 91.6 | $184,396 | $45,995 |
| 56 | Lafayette County FIPS 05073 | 54.8 | 46.1 | 82.8 | 8.3 | 60.8 | 80.2 | 75.1 | $95,393 | $41,278 |
| 57 | Union County FIPS 05139 | 54.8 | 33.8 | 83.6 | 17.6 | 64.5 | 78.7 | 87.2 | $125,865 | $55,259 |
| 58 | Ashley County FIPS 05003 | 54.6 | 24.9 | 88.2 | 14.5 | 79.3 | 72.9 | 84.4 | $83,337 | $44,266 |
| 59 | Bradley County FIPS 05011 | 54.6 | 33.6 | 79.6 | 7.3 | 85.1 | 79.1 | 82.4 | $103,458 | $41,476 |
| 60 | Stone County FIPS 05137 | 54.6 | 40.8 | 45.9 | 63.7 | 46.9 | 89.6 | 83.7 | $201,829 | $40,943 |
| 61 | Cleburne County FIPS 05023 | 54.5 | 54.8 | 46.1 | 47.3 | 48.4 | 87.9 | 75.3 | $254,452 | $55,798 |
| 62 | Monroe County FIPS 05095 | 54.2 | 29.4 | 84.4 | 4.1 | 86.5 | 79.9 | 78.5 | $84,697 | $43,214 |
| 63 | Pulaski County FIPS 05119 | 53.4 | 57.1 | 63.2 | 9.4 | 84.7 | 59.2 | 56.1 | $207,636 | $62,873 |
| 64 | Montgomery County FIPS 05097 | 52 | 41.1 | 48.6 | 25.9 | 77.3 | 91.1 | 72.9 | $216,049 | $48,906 |
| 65 | Miller County FIPS 05091 | 51.8 | 36.4 | 64.2 | 12.3 | 82.9 | 74.5 | 85.8 | $169,884 | $48,836 |
| 66 | Marion County FIPS 05089 | 51.5 | 39.3 | 54.5 | 25.1 | 69.1 | 85.4 | 82.3 | $216,707 | $48,619 |
| 67 | Chicot County FIPS 05017 | 50.9 | 19.7 | 81.2 | 1.9 | 83.2 | 84.4 | 87.8 | $99,829 | $39,045 |
| 68 | Jefferson County FIPS 05069 | 49.9 | 29.2 | 84.5 | 2.9 | 70.1 | 62.7 | 81.5 | $86,904 | $51,096 |
| 69 | St. Francis County FIPS 05123 | 49 | 19 | 85.5 | 1.1 | 69.1 | 80.6 | 85.5 | $81,471 | $42,574 |
| 70 | Crittenden County FIPS 05035 | 48.5 | 37.1 | 67.2 | 10.8 | 58.5 | 73 | 84.6 | $164,982 | $55,358 |
| 71 | Newton County FIPS 05101 | 48.5 | 43.9 | 52.2 | 11.1 | 63.1 | 89.7 | 77.3 | $226,025 | $48,986 |
| 72 | Ouachita County FIPS 05103 | 47.7 | 41.4 | 86 | 5.6 | 17.5 | 79.8 | 82.5 | $97,482 | $49,268 |
| 73 | Lee County FIPS 05077 | 44.2 | 22.2 | 71.1 | 0.3 | 51.7 | 88.9 | 82.9 | $100,713 | $34,375 |
| 74 | Desha County FIPS 05041 | 42.2 | 8.5 | 77.2 | 5.2 | 49.3 | 79.3 | 87.7 | $94,489 | $37,662 |
| 75 | Phillips County FIPS 05107 | 31.7 | 8.3 | 82 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 42.6 | 84.4 | $50,141 | $40,134 |