[eventhere]

We are contemplating a move to Arkansas. Fell in love with the Subiaco area, but not sure where would be a good place to live close to the Oachita Mtn area. Any suggestions? What are salaries like in Arkansas? My husband is a trauma nurse in Houston and makes a good income. I work as a paralegal and also make a good income. I'm concerned about whether we could find comparable jobs making same level of $$. Unsure of where to relocate that would be close to Subiaco and still make a living (we are considering sending our children to the Catholic school there). I welcome any suggestions and insights.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by eventhere

We are contemplating a move to Arkansas. Fell in love with the Subiaco area, but not sure where would be a good place to live close to the Oachita Mtn area. Any suggestions? What are salaries like in Arkansas? My husband is a trauma nurse in Houston and makes a good income. I work as a paralegal and also make a good income. I'm concerned about whether we could find comparable jobs making same level of $$. Unsure of where to relocate that would be close to Subiaco and still make a living (we are considering sending our children to the Catholic school there). I welcome any suggestions and insights.

Your salaries will not be as high as in Texas, but the cost of living, primarily housing will be so much lower that is should offset the loss in pay. It sounds like you would have no trouble finding jobs.

Nita

[PurpleLove08]

It would seem like there would be more paralegal jobs in Little Rock...maybe I'm wrong.
Nursing jobs can be had in many places in AR but I am not sure about the trauma positions.

My main concern would be your paralegal job.

Best of luck and I hope you can come to AR.

[jenni-b]

the cost of living, primarily housing will be so much lower that is should offset the loss in pay

I'm not so sure about this; the cost of living in Texas is comparable to Arkansas. And housing is dead cheap in Texas right now.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Your salaries will not be as high as in Texas, but the cost of living, primarily housing will be so much lower that is should offset the loss in pay. It sounds like you would have no trouble finding jobs.

Nita

Not necissarily. I hear this argument all the time but its simply not so. Maybe when compared to the DC area or California, but compared to Texas there isn't really any benefit to living in Arkansas unless you just have to live in the peace and quiet and be away from it all. You will likely take a significant pay cut. Your housing may be a little cheaper but still not enough to make up for your pay cut. I would re-evaluate why you are wanting to make this move before doing it. Depending on where you are in life, I would remain in Houston and start saving for retirement, then retire in Arkansas.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Not necissarily. I hear this argument all the time but its simply not so. Maybe when compared to the DC area or California, but compared to Texas there isn't really any benefit to living in Arkansas unless you just have to live in the peace and quiet and be away from it all. You will likely take a significant pay cut. Your housing may be a little cheaper but still not enough to make up for your pay cut. I would re-evaluate why you are wanting to make this move before doing it. Depending on where you are in life, I would remain in Houston and start saving for retirement, then retire in Arkansas.

ok, look at this:

We sold our home in Lewisville, TX for $131,000 8 years ago, it just resold for $156,000.00. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 story 0 lot line home in a middle income neighborhood. (certainly not upscale in any sense of the word) Our taxes when we left were about $2500 a year and home insurance $1200.00. Our house here, newer, upscale area of Bella Vista on about 1/2 acre, was purchased last year for $146,000. Our taxes are about $700.00 and our insurance $550.00. Gas is about 10 cents a gallon cheaper here right now, and our utilities are about 1/2 of what they were 8 years ago in Texas. The only thing that runs about the same is food, sometimes higher,other times lower. Oh, and booze is a little less in Texas, but many people don't drink or drink enough to consider that an expense. Sales taxes are higher here, not by much, but they are higher and of course we do have state income tax.Medicall care here is less.

Whether this is enough to offset the salary difference I do not know. Does anyone posting here have an idea what a trama nurse or a para-legal can expect to earn?? I certainly don't.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jenni-b

I'm not so sure about this; the cost of living in Texas is comparable to Arkansas. And housing is dead cheap in Texas right now.

That depends on where you live in Texas. It has depreciated here as well. Houses selling for $175,000 or more a year ago are going for $150,000 and staying on the market 6 months or longer. The more expensive the home, the more it has depreciated. Of course I am basing my comments on NWA versus the Dallas metro area. I have no idea about other areas in Texas or AR. I guess, unless we actually live in an area or have family that does, none of us really know, do we?

Nita

[bchris02]

The OP will take a very signifficant pay cut moving to Arkansas period but will take an even bigger cut in some rural town like Subiaco. I usually don't recommend Fort Smith to people, but in this case it might be the OP's best choice. It's an older population and there is much demand for medical professionals. If you want the quiet life without having to make a HUGE reduction in your standard of living it might be something to look into.

[janel3151]

I hope you do move to Arkansas! I love living in the Bryant/Benton area...rural feel, but thriving economically. I'm a RN working at Saint Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock..about a 30 min commute for me. It's rated in the top 5% in the nation for quality healthcare....I LOVE working there. I work Neuro and know it's a really GREAT place to work. The people there were VERY friendly when I moved here from GA about 5 months ago and I have made alot of friends here already. The schools in Bryant are top notch as well..but not sure of Catholic Schools. We're about 15 miles from Ouachita Mtns as well

Hubby needs to check out ER jobs at SVI (Saint Vincent Infirmary Medical Center) It's a 700 + bed hospital, but doesn't feel that big working there.

If you or hubby need more info please feel free to contact me on this site or at janelair31@gmail.com
I'll be happy to provide any info I can to help
Janel3151

[janel3151]

I'm a RN with 9 yrs. experience and I moved from Atlanta area to Little Rock area 5 months ago and got a $8.50 INCREASE in base pay. Cost of living in Benton/Bryant area is very affordable as well. I live in a 2 br/1bath LARGE apt in brand new gated community in Bryant/Benton area and rent is $900/mo. This is more than most apartments, but the amenities are worth it to me. Schools are really good in Bryant...or so I'm told, since I have no children in school any longer.
I'm not sure what salaries are in Little Rock area for paralegals...but there is a website...I think it's www.payscale.com that you can compare salaries. If that's not it ...just google cost of live in Little Rock, AR and you can find it.
I hope this helps ...and also tell hubby that at SVI we have a BRAND NEW ER too!! VERY NICE and with a GREAT REPUTATION as well!
Hope to hear from you soon and good luck to you