Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Van Buren, AR

    Is Van Buren a good place to live?

    Watch Van Buren

    Van Buren ranks #12 of 20 Arkansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (39/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $178,000
    +14.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $820
    per month
    Household income
    $59,420
    median
    Unemployment
    7.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Van Buren

    The median home value in Van Buren is $178,000 and median rent is $820 a month, against a median household income of $59,420. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Van Buren crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Arkansas the 2025 rate was 535 violent and 1,669 property crimes per 100,000 people — #12 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Van Buren, AR

    Van Buren has about 23,545 residents, 7.4% unemployment and 14% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Van Buren with

    Van Buren vs Little RockVan Buren vs FayettevilleVan Buren vs Fort SmithVan Buren vs SpringdaleVan Buren vs JonesboroVan Buren vs RogersVan Buren vs ConwayVan Buren vs North Little Rock

    More: Where to move in Arkansas · Best counties in Arkansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report