Is Bentonville a good place to retire?
Bentonville can suit a retiree who wants a growing city with arts institutions, parks, local transit, broadband, and access to the larger Northwest Arkansas region. The city proper is not the same as Benton County, Rogers, Bella Vista, Centerton, or the wider planning area. That distinction matters when a home, hospital, trail, floodplain, or airport becomes part of the decision.
The current local monthly estimate is $3,042, with $4,290 used for comfortable living and traveler planning and $4,446 for a couple. Typical gross rent is $1,082 for a one bedroom, while a separate Census QuickFacts measure lists $1,344 median gross rent for 2020 to 2024. Utilities have a $232 reference included in rent treatment, and the city facts mark car need as Required. The strongest fit is someone who wants culture and outdoor options but will plan every important route from the actual address.
What it may cost
Start with the local estimate. Traveler and couple budgets show how the monthly total can change.
Local monthly estimate
$3,042
- Traveler estimate
- $4,290
- Couple estimate
- $4,446
- Typical 1BR rent
- $1,082
- Cost pressure
- Moderate
Everyday life
Nearby air service can make family visits simpler. The age mix includes a smaller 50+ community.
20.6%
Residents age 50+
- Walkability
- Moderate2 / 5A car will likely make everyday errands easier.
- Median broadband
- 385 MbpsPlenty for video calls and streaming.
- Family visits
- Airport connected visit
Bentonville, Arkansas, in focus
A Bentonville retirement shaped by arts, parks, regional care, a required car, and planning area boundaries
Bentonville's city life sits inside a larger planning area
Census QuickFacts lists a 2025 population of 63,057, a 2020 Census population of 54,164, and 33.84 square miles of city land. Bentonville's territorial jurisdiction extends outside its corporate limits, and the 2025 community plan identifies about 3,750 acres of floodplain and 150 wetlands in the planning area. Those planning numbers should not be applied to every city property.
The current city facts show about 20.6 percent age 50 and older, broadband near 385 Mbps, and a Required car label. The practical weekly map should connect the home to groceries, primary care, Northwest Medical Center Bentonville, parks, Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, the Bentonville Rogers bus network, and airport or family routes rather than assuming the planning area is one continuous daily place.
Local hospital access is strong, while care geography stays regional
Three mapped hospitals and about 439 reported beds fall within 12 kilometers. Northwest Medical Center Bentonville describes a 128 bed acute care hospital with cardiac, catheterization, stroke, and 24 hour emergency services. Mercy Rogers is a regional Level III trauma center, and Washington Regional in Fayetteville is a 425 bed regional medical center with more than 40 clinics.
The radius includes 10 HRSA adult primary care likely sites within 15 miles, with the nearest about 2.2 miles away, nine Medicare emergency hospitals within 30 miles, 17 nursing homes within 15 miles, and six registered pharmacies in the exact city registry. The 74 selected Medicare specialist records are a search lead only because broad specialist access is unavailable. Zero city listings for home health, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, long term care hospital, inpatient psychiatric, ophthalmology, and medical oncology deserve a direct service check before a move.
Getting the care you need
Hospital access and everyday care both look strong.
3
Hospitals nearby
- Healthcare access
- Excellent
- Country life expectancy
- About 78.9 years
- Primary care
- Excellent
- Pharmacy access
- Excellent
A Bentonville care plan should name the city facility and the regional backup
Northwest Medical Center Bentonville gives the city a named acute care starting point, while Mercy Rogers and Washington Regional extend the regional map. The three hospital records, 439 reported beds, nine emergency hospitals, and 10 HRSA adult primary care likely sites describe possible access around Bentonville, not clinical quality, capacity, appointment timing, network acceptance, or personal outcomes.
The 74 selected specialist records and six pharmacy locations can start a search, but the broad specialist value is unavailable and the exact city registry lists no home health, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, long term care hospital, inpatient psychiatric, ophthalmology, or medical oncology locations. Ask the preferred primary care office, insurer, hospital, and support agencies what is available for the household and how far the route really is.
Understanding safety
Property crime looks better; violent crime is the part to examine more closely.
Overall safety
Good
3.0 / 5
- Violent crime
- Very Good
- Property crime
- Excellent
Bentonville safety planning needs city observations and parcel review
The detailed safety field is unavailable even though the overview presentation is more favorable. Direct 2024 Bentonville Police observations report 257 violent crimes per 100,000 and 830 property crimes per 100,000. The 2026 State of the City describes a 17.83 percent fall in violent crime and a 22.04 percent fall in property crime from 2024 to 2025. That is a reported trend, not a promise about the next year or every property.
Bentonville's hazard rows mark natural disaster, flood, and wildfire as Moderate, storm as High, heat as Moderate, and drought as Low, with 12 disaster declarations. The 2025 community plan identifies about 3,750 acres of floodplain and 150 wetlands in the planning area, not city limits. Review FEMA special flood hazard areas, base elevation, drainage outside mapped areas, insurance, trees, roof, power, and road access for the actual parcel.
Living through the seasons
Summers are the easier season. Winter comfort deserves a closer look.
Overall climate comfort
Moderate2.5 / 5
Summer
88°F
Average high
37 days/year above 90°F
3.4 / 5 · Very Good
Winter
27°F
Average low
82 days/year below freezing
1.9 / 5 · Moderate
Air quality
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Bentonville needs a home ready for humid heat, freezing days, and severe storms
The current climate values show an average summer high near 88°F, about 37 days above 90°F, an average winter low near 27°F, and about 82 freezing days. Five months are listed as comfortable, and the best months are April, May, June, September, and October. Heat, humidity, allergy conditions, shade, cooling, heating, frozen surfaces, and storm preparation can matter more than the seasonal label.
The long term fine particle baseline is 6.1 micrograms per cubic meter for 2021 to 2025, and the air quality value is based on that modeled period. The current AQI and PM2.5 display is Checking and unavailable, so the long term number is not a promise about today's air. NWS historical station information uses a different 1981 to 2010 period, with 47.09 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snow, 38.5 days above 90°F, and 99.6 days below freezing. Keep those records separate.
Retirement fit
Bentonville, strengths and tradeoffs
Care, costs, seasons, and local character can suit some retirees better than others.
Pros
- Bentonville combines Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, parks, regional greenways, broadband, and a named city hospital.
- The $1,082 one bedroom anchor, local estimate, and low property tax label give a household a clear starting budget.
- Mercy Rogers, Washington Regional, XNA, and the Bentonville Rogers network add regional options when their boundaries are kept precise.
Tradeoffs
- The Required car label and low transit commute share make daily errands, care, visitors, parking, and weather backup part of the budget.
- The detailed safety result and broad specialist value are unavailable, so favorable headline impressions cannot answer every property or care question.
- Heat, humidity, storm exposure, planning area floodplain, wetlands, freezing days, insurance, and regional distances can change the apparent fit.
A few days in Bentonville
Spend time with ordinary parts of the city as well as its better known places.
Day 1
Map a real Bentonville week
Place the home, Northwest Medical Center Bentonville, primary care, pharmacy, groceries, Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, a Bentonville Rogers stop, and an indoor weather option on one map.
Day 2
Inspect the parcel and the route
Review floodplain status, wetlands, drainage, insurance, elevation, roof, trees, cooling, heating, shade, parking, power, storm routes, and the return trip.
Day 3
Confirm regional services
Verify Bentonville Rogers route coverage, on demand terms, Mercy Rogers and Washington Regional geography, Crystal Bridges and Momentary access, XNA service, and current air information.
Questions worth asking before you retire in Bentonville
What kind of retiree may like Bentonville?
Bentonville may suit someone who values Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, parks, regional trails, nearby care, broadband, and airport access while accepting a Required car and parcel level flood and weather review.
Is Bentonville healthcare local or regional?
Northwest Medical Center Bentonville is a city facility. Mercy Rogers and Washington Regional in Fayetteville are regional options, and the radius counts include facilities outside Bentonville. Confirm coverage, referrals, parking, and travel from the actual home.
Does Bentonville have an overall safety result?
The detailed safety field is unavailable. Pair the 2024 city observations and reported 2024 to 2025 trend with the actual property, lighting, parking, neighborhood, flood, and storm review.
What is Bentonville's main climate tradeoff?
Humid summers, about 37 days above 90°F, about 82 freezing days, allergies, storms, and unavailable current AQI readings all matter. Check cooling, heating, shade, drainage, insurance, indoor options, and the route home.
Can Bentonville be car free?
The current city facts mark car need as Required. Bentonville Rogers fixed routes are free and on demand service is listed at $1.25, but map the exact home, destination, transfer, weather, hours, and backup ride before relying on transit.
Could this place work for you?
Bentonville may fit a retiree who wants substantial arts, outdoor places, strong nearby hospital access, broadband, and a Northwest Arkansas setting, and who accepts a Required car and careful city, planning area, county, and regional boundaries. It may be less satisfying for someone seeking a fully walk everywhere life or a complete care and flood answer from headline labels. Save the property and route checklist, Compare another city, and choose Find my fit after those questions are clear.
Sources
These sources list the public figures used for Bentonville. Local context links describe its parks, food, culture, history, and other place specific details.
- U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Used for Estimated Monthly Budget (Traveler), Estimated Monthly Budget (Local Resident), Estimated Monthly Budget (Couple), Cost Pressure
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for Typical 1BR Rent
- OpenStreetMap healthcare amenities static probe
Used for Healthcare Access, Primary Care Access
- FEMA RAPT / HIFLD Hospitals
Used for Hospitals Within 12 km
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services NPPES NPI Registry
Used for Pharmacy Convenience
Checked 2026-07-19
- FBI Crime Data Explorer
Used for Violent Crime Level, Property Crime Level
Checked 2024-12-31
- NOAA/NASA source-backed climate component formula
Used for Climate Comfort, Summer Heat, Winter Comfort
- Open-Meteo / Copernicus CAMS, checked against U.S. EPA AirData
Used for Air Quality
Checked 2026-05-18
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Walkability Index
Used for Walkability Estimate
Checked 2026-07-10
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for Age 50+
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Used for Medicare-Listed Geriatric Medicine Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Cardiology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Medical Oncology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Neurology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Ophthalmology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Endocrinology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Pulmonary Disease Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Nephrology Clinicians in City, Medicare-Listed Rheumatology Clinicians in City
Checked 2026-07-13
Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.
Partner with Retirement ListsResearch and writing byGrant Gibson
How this city research is made
Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.
