15 Best Places To Retire In Arkansas

This article takes a look at the 15 best places to retire in Arkansas. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on navigating retirement living in the US, you may go to 5 Best Places to Retire in Arkansas.

What is the ‘Best’ in Retirement?

In retirement, finding the best option can often be difficult. According to a HireAHelper report, over 338,000 Americans moved for retirement in 2023. Similarly, the Social Security Administration states that by 2021, at least 450,000 American citizens had settled on an overseas retirement destination. Both of these figures depict dissatisfaction with present circumstances and an urge to change them, either through interstate travel or crossing international borders.

While many retirees do make the move overseas, this is not an option in everyone’s reach. Straight off the bat, a foreign relocation costs serious money - in excess of $10,000, reports BuzzFeed, Inc. (NASDAQ:BZFD) affiliated HuffPost. Of course, some retirees do manage to bring down this figure by finding the most affordable places to retire in the world, but this often means restricted retirement destinations and potentially skipping out on some amenities. 

Others still are bound by familial responsibilities - Bloomberg reports that as much as 50% of the US young adult population still lives at home with their parents. Not only does this put an overseas retirement out of the question, but it also piles a greater financial burden on the parent generation, often forcing them to adjust their retirement plans accordingly. In fact, many of the Americans who continue to financially support their adult children often do not possess the $10,000 retirement relocation investment that BuzzFeed, Inc. (NASDAQ:BZFD) talks about in their publication. 

As a result, American retirees have increasingly been turning to an interstate migration trend. Here, there are certain patterns - retirees look at factors such as cost of living, weather, healthcare, and more when making their decision. While not appearing in the top rankings for states that attract retirees, Arkansas still holds a solid place for those contemplating a move.

Making Arkansas Your Forever Home

On the face of it, Arkansas may not seem like the best retirement choice. After all, it doesn’t hold the glamour of popular retirement states such as Florida and Colorado. However, take a second look and there’s much more to see. 

For instance, our study on the best states to live in after retirement puts Arkansas at number 14. The state exempts Social Security income from taxation, whereas other forms of retirement income are partially taxed with a $6,000 deduction allowed to senior citizens. Property taxes are also among the lowest in the US at just 0.57%.