The Town FilesBella Vista, Arkansas
City in Benton County · population 30,104 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,700
- Household income
- $88,055
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 51.3
Bella Vista is a city of 30,104 people in Benton County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $296,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for families than 98% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 97% of Arkansas towns, more upscale than 96% of Arkansas towns.
How Bella Vista ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bella Vista is worth $296,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $88,055, which is more affordable than 23% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,395 a month. 88.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bella Vista | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $792 |
| Median household income | $88,055 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 88.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Bella Vista
| People | Bella Vista | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 21.5% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Bella Vista
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 24.2°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bella Vista since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 2006 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 29, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 12, 2006.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 144,544 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $81,978 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Bella Vista itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Bella Vista
1 public school with 644 students, about 19.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 644 | 19.5 |
Towns near Bella Vista
- Gravette, AR6.3 mi · 3,547 people · home $216,300
- Centerton, AR7.9 mi · 17,792 people · home $338,500
- Bentonville, AR8.1 mi · 54,164 people · home $428,500
- Pea Ridge, AR8.2 mi · 6,559 people · home $297,500
- Little Flock, AR9.2 mi · 3,055 people · home $467,600
- Rogers, AR12.1 mi · 69,908 people · home $308,200
- Cave Springs, AR13.5 mi · 5,495 people · home $460,300
- Lowell, AR15.9 mi · 9,839 people · home $284,200
Bella Vista questions
Is Bella Vista, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bella Vista scores better for retirees than 97% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 64%. 31.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).
How much does a house cost in Bella Vista?
The median owner-occupied home in Bella Vista is valued at $296,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,055, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,395 a month.
What is the weather like in Bella Vista?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 24.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.7 inches of snow.
Does Bella Vista get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bella Vista since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 2006. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)