[nwabound]

My family & I are looking to move to North West Arkansas, we have made several trips up there and absolutely love it. There are several cities of interest we have looked into and I would like some opinions on which one is the absolute best to raise children. We've looked into Siloam Springs, Centerton, Bentonvile, & Bella Vista. Can anyone tell me out of these cities which city has the best school system and the most activites for kids things like soft ball, gymnastics, basketball etc...? And if there are any other cities up there that I have not mentioned that would be great for raising kids in please let me know.

I would also like to know about rental properties, We are not wanting to rent an aparment but a house, for the first year or so. Where can you find nice houses for rent?

[GetmeoutofAR]

Siloam Springs is quasi-Oklahoma and isolated from the rest of NWA. Centerton is basically west Bentonville and Bella Vista is basically north Bentonville (a hilly version) so there you have it. I'd go with Bentonville if I were you.

[sergio]

You can go online and find houses for rent. Depending on your taste you looking at anywhere from $750-$900 for a house. Bentonville would be my advice too. Good luck and welcome.

[nmnita]

I would suggest Bentonville followed by Bella Vista. Bella Vista was originally a retirement community but more families are moving in all the time. They are part of the Bella Vsita school district and just got their first elementary school this past fall.

Nita

[TN-rox]

Bentonville or Pea Ridge.

[nwabound]

I would like to thank you guys for your responses, it looks like Bentonville is the place to live up there, Can anyone tell me which area of Bentonville is the best to live in, and if you can find rental homes up there?

Again thanks to everyone any help is greatly appreciated!!

[gimme it]

I'm curious why you didn't add Fayetteville to your list? We haven't checked the area out ourselves, but on paper, Fayetteville is the place we were most interested in, as it's a college town. Did you see it and not like it or just ruled it out? We have a child too, so I am always curious how other families choose where to live. Thanks.

[nwabound]

Originally Posted by gimme it

I'm curious why you didn't add Fayetteville to your list? We haven't checked the area out ourselves, but on paper, Fayetteville is the place we were most interested in, as it's a college town. Did you see it and not like it or just ruled it out? We have a child too, so I am always curious how other families choose where to live. Thanks.

I love Fayettville, its just not a city I care to live in. We've always lived in the suburb of a large city and that is were we are most comfortable. Fayetteville is an awesome city and the people are very nice.

[JAKNEJ]

whats the story on rogers or harrison as far as good places to raise a family?

[bchris02]

Rogers is one of the hotspots in the state right now as far as culture, dining, and shopping. They have many restaurants and retailers not even Little Rock has. The schools are great as far as I know. I do know its one of the fastest growing cities in the state and its also a very affluent demographic. Many people WANT to live in Rogers and don't just move their because their jobs bring them. Rogers is still a small city, so you can either live in a suburban subdivision or a rural community and still have an easy commute.

On the other hand, I would avoid Harrison. It has a very backward, closed minded small town. No diversity and much much racism abounds. The grand dragon of the KKK lives in Harrison if that puts it into perspective. If there is any place in Arkansas deserving of the typical Arkansas stereotype, its Harrison.