Theater & film
JUL22
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Theater & film
Adult Game Club
popecountyar
Join a lively group of people to play cards and have fun!
Arts and craftsIndoors
Arkansas
Snapshot
Retire by stateFigures verified May 31, 2026
Arkansas retirement guide
Retiring in Arkansas
Arkansas gives you cheap housing, lakes, and Ozark scenery. The trade is humid summers, tornado season, and thin amenities once you leave the metros.
Could fit
You want an affordable base near lakes, mountains, and hot springs, and you would rather have the outdoors than big-city services.
Look closely at
You want a lot of amenities close at hand, or storms worry you. Rural areas run thin, and tornado season is real.
Cost of living
$4,350/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Arkansas comes out near $4,350 a month.
#1 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.
U.S. avg 100
More affordablePricier
Arkansas runs about 13% below the national average on everyday prices.
Cost of recreation
81
Our index of how Arkansas's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.
#1 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.
U.S. avg 100
More affordablePricier
Arkansas's modeled hobby costs run about 19% below the national average. The modeled average is about $856 a year across the activity basket.
Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.
How the plan models Arkansas
The state lines the calculator actually changes.
Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what Arkansas actually feels like.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Arkansas income picture.
Estimate how Arkansas treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Cost of living
$4,350/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Arkansas prices translate to about $4,350 a month.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesState income tax
~4.0%
Arkansas does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 4% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Arkansas, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance.
Tax FoundationSocial Security
Not taxed
Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
AARP / IRS Pub. 915Property tax
0.6%
Property tax is local, but the Arkansas state-level planning rate used here is 0.6% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $2,200 a year before county detail.
Tax FoundationSales tax
9.5%
Tax Foundation puts Arkansas's 2026 average combined state and local sales tax near 9.5%, ranked 4 among states in that table.
Tax FoundationVehicle costs
Check cars
Vehicle costs need a separate check in Arkansas because value-based vehicle taxes or registration-linked property taxes can show up in the car budget.
FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guideLong-term care in Arkansas
The care cliff, in Arkansas dollars.
CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.
Assisted living
$4,637/mo
About $55,644 a year, 25% lower than the national median.
Nursing home (semi-private)
$7,452/mo
About $89,425 a year, 22% lower than the national median.
Home caregiver
$4,767/mo
About $57,200 a year, 29% lower than the national median.
Activities & recreation in Arkansas
What there is to do, with the sources.
How the things people retire for actually look in Arkansas. Each links to the full activity guide.
FishingBuffalo National River - NPS
Buffalo National River, a free-flowing 135-mile river in north Arkansas, is managed by the National Park Service and offers public bank fishing and float fishing for smallmouth bass and catfish. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission issues fishing licenses with a discounted lifetime license option for Arkansas residents 65 and older.
$376/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Published input
Resident Fisheries Conservation License; valid through June 30 annually
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission - Fishing License Descriptions and Fees · as of 2025Where to go
Hiking & trailsArkansas State Parks - Official Site
Arkansas State Parks cover a wide range of terrain, from the Ozark highlands at Petit Jean State Park to the hot springs area trails at Gulley Park in Fayetteville. The Buffalo National River corridor itself has more than 100 miles of maintained hiking trails through limestone bluffs and hardwood forest.
$226/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Published input
Arkansas State Parks do not charge a general day-use admission fee for hiking at most parks; camping and pool fees apply separately
Arkansas State Parks - Official Website · as of 2026Boating & waterBuffalo Outdoor Center - Buffalo National River
Lake Ouachita, covering about 40,000 acres near Hot Springs, is one of the cleanest lakes in the country and has several public marinas and boat launches. Bull Shoals Lake on the Missouri border and Lake Greeson in Pike County also have public access ramps and camping facilities.
$4,051/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Published input
Motorboat registration fees valid for 3-year period; Class 1 under 16 ft $7.50, 16-25 ft $15.00, 26-40 ft $51.00, 40 ft+ $105.00; amounts listed are per 3-year registration
Published range: $7.50 to $105.
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Motor Boat Registration · as of 2026GolfArkansas Tourism - Golf
Arkansas has dozens of public courses scattered across its Ozark and Ouachita regions, including several operated through the state parks system. The Little Rock area has a cluster of municipal and semi-private courses with senior weekday rates.
$860/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Published input
Burns Park Golf Course Tournament Course, adult 18-hole rate Monday through Thursday before 2 PM; senior/veteran rate is $13.00 Monday-Thursday
Published range: $13 to $23.
City of North Little Rock - Burns Park Golf Course Fees (2025 Schedule) · as of 2025Where to go
GardeningBotanical Garden of the Ozarks - Arkansas Gardening School
The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville hosts the annual Arkansas Gardening School, a day-long educational symposium open to all skill levels. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service runs a statewide Master Gardener program through county Extension offices.
$502/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
Published input
Two Rivers Park (Pulaski County) community garden 25-by-10-ft plot annual fee; includes water access; gardens run year-round
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Two Rivers Park community garden (July 2025) · as of 2025Where to go
Pickleball & tennisCity of Little Rock - Senior Center
The new Little Rock Senior Center facility includes outdoor pickleball courts alongside an indoor therapy pool, designed for adults 55 and older. Pickleball Kingdom Little Rock runs free indoor sessions for seniors on a regular schedule.
$329/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.
Where to go
Arts & cultureArkansas Museum of Fine Arts
The Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, recently reimagined as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, houses a collection of more than 14,500 works and offers senior admission pricing. The Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville presents Broadway touring productions, symphony performances, and regional theater year-round.
$304/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Published input
General admission is free every day; members, veterans, ages 17 and under, and SNAP recipients also receive free entry
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · as of 2026Where to go
Social & communityArkansas DHS - Area Agencies on Aging
The Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services funds eight Area Agencies on Aging across the state that connect adults 60 and older with senior centers, meal delivery, transportation, and caregiver support. Arkansas Aging Services maintains a searchable directory of local senior centers at agingarkansas.org.
$201/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.
Published input
Annual membership (core hours Monday-Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM and weekends); extended hours and out-of-state membership $150/yr; day pass $5
City of North Little Rock - Patrick Henry Hays Senior Center Membership · as of 2026Where to go
Things to do in Arkansas
What a week can look like.
Petit Jean and the state parks
Petit Jean State Park opened in 1923 and covers more than 2,500 acres on Petit Jean Mountain. You get forests, ravines, streams, and a lake. It anchors a state-park system built around hiking and water.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and TourismHot Springs and its thermal baths
Hot Springs is built around its mineral-rich thermal water. You can still soak in it at the historic bathhouses on Bathhouse Row, inside Hot Springs National Park. A national park wrapped around a small town pulls in retirees.
Lakes and northwest Arkansas trails
Fayetteville and Bentonville are the state's hub for mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and public art, with lakes close by for boating and fishing. This is the more amenity-rich corner of Arkansas.
What to know about Arkansas
What can change the month.
Tornado season and humid heat
Summers run hot and humid, and the state sits in a region with a real tornado season. This is one of the most common knocks on living here, so plan for the weather rather than around it.
Limited amenities in rural areas
Once you leave the larger metros, shopping, dining, and services thin out, and pay in some industries runs below big-city levels. More services usually sit closer to a regional hub.
Low housing and property taxes
Housing is cheap and property taxes are relatively modest, which is a big part of the draw. Arkansas does not tax Social Security, though it can tax other retirement income.
SROAThings to do in Arkansas
What there is to do across Arkansas.
6 tracked categories across Arkansas. Each card opens the search filtered to that activity.
Fish
Fishing
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
292 places tracked
Trails
Hiking trails
Named trails, parks, and nature reserves for a real walk.
22 places tracked
Water
Boating and water
Marinas, ramps, and launches for getting on the water.
27 places tracked
Birds
Birding
Top-rated birding hotspots from the eBird community.
29 places tracked
Camp
Camping & RV
Federal campgrounds, RV parks, dispersed sites, and horse-friendly camps.
36 places tracked
Scenic
Wildlife & scenic
Wildlife and whale viewing, scenic drives, hot springs, stargazing spots.
24 places tracked
Upcoming events in Arkansas
See all eventsCommunity & civic
JUL22
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Senior programs
JUL22
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Community & civic
JUL22
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Community & civic
Quilters Sew-cial Circle
popecountyar
Join other adult quilters and fiber artists in this come-and-go sew-cial meet up.
Bring the grandkids
Classes & arts
JUL22
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Classes & arts
Quilters Club
popecountyar
Quilters Club is a perfect opportunity to learn how to quilt and to meet other quilters.
Arts and craftsIndoors
Classes & arts
JUL23
popecountyar · Atkins, AR
Classes & arts
Adult Craft Club
popecountyar
Bring your own craft project or start one with our supplies! Adult craft club is a fun place to be with lovley people and tons of crafting!
Arts and craftsIndoors
Weighing two states?
Put Arkansas next to another state.
Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.
Common questions
Retiring in Arkansas, answered.
Does Arkansas tax retirement income?
Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals can still need a state-tax line in Arkansas, with exemptions and local rules checked against current state guidance. Arkansas does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 4% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context.
AARP: how states tax retirement incomeIs Arkansas cheaper or more expensive than average?
BEA regional price parities put Arkansas about 13.1% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a Arkansas translation.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesWhat does long-term care cost in Arkansas?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, Arkansas assisted living runs about $55,644 a year (25% lower than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $89,425 a year (22% lower than the national median).
CareScout / Genworth Cost of CareIs Arkansas affordable for retirees?
Often, yes. Home prices and property taxes run relatively low, so owning is more affordable here than in many states. The trade-offs are humid summers, tornado season, and fewer amenities once you get rural.
SROASources
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