Introduction to Bentonville

Many blogs and articles about Bentonville call the city “New Austin” or “The Next Denver.”

Bentonville has all the ingredients to be the next big thing, and its growth does resemble these metros. Still, Bentonville is so much more than a copycat to the “swanky hipster cities” that dot the United States.

We may be like Austin in some ways, but we are not “New Austin.”

Bentonville is a great case study of the blending of cultures, societies, workforces, and more. Areas of influence, such as the Fortune 1 retail giant Walmart, are motivated to make this area vibrant and lively.

Their efforts are paying off, too. Offering numerous outdoor trails, world-class museums, restaurants, start-ups, and more.

In less than three decades, Bentonville has transformed from a sleepy Arkansas town into a world-renowned entrepreneurial powerhouse. It doesn’t embody Austin; it embodies the very definition of the American dream.

Thirty years ago, Bentonville’s population sat cozily at 14,000 people, a township nestled north of Rogers. Fast-forward to 2024, and it’s a hub of opportunity, boasting a population that has grown to 57,868. This growth isn’t expected to slow down any time soon, with some estimates predicting Bentonville will hit the 100,000 mark in ten years.

Despite this expansion, Bentonville remains rooted in upholding the community’s small-town values. The city’s unique blend of natural beauty, business-minded spirit, and love for arts and culture draws people from all corners of the country.

Whether you’re looking to start a family, advance your career, or enjoy a higher quality of life, Bentonville offers it all.

Living in Bentonville is about living well. It’s easy to see why Bentonville has become a hotspot for entrepreneurs, executives, young families, and hobbyists alike.

Real Estate Housing

The median household income tends to swing higher than the rest of NWA. Residents tend to enjoy a quick commute, and the city’s youthful energy is shown in an age lower than the Arkansas median of 38.

Real estate in Bentonville tends to sway positively, with the median listing price being more expensive than the surrounding areas. Despite the higher cost of living, which still sits well below the national average, Bentonville provides a unique culture, a booming job market, and high-quality services that make it a great place to live.

Education

Bentonville has a large public, private, and charter schooling system, serving over 19,000 students across 24 public campuses scattered around the city and many more in the private and charter school sectors. This ensures that every child receives the support they need to succeed in school. There are 43 preschools, 25 elementary schools, nine middle schools, six high schools, 19 public district schools, and nine public charter schools. 43 of those schools are private, rounding out the total school amount within Bentonville at 71 campuses.

This support is shown through academic excellence. Many schools in the district are rated highly in quality, receiving national praise, positive reviews, and more. Bentonville also houses a community college, culinary school, and an upcoming school of medicine.

Northwest Arkansas Community College, or NWACC, provides quality and affordable higher education and job-related training. The college offers a full range of certifications and associate degrees in business, computer science, art, communications, nursing, criminal justice, and more. NWACC works with students to transfer those looking for a bachelor’s degree to four-year universities.

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, is more than a run-of-the-mill culinary school, offering degrees in areas such as artisanal food, beverage arts, baking & pastry, and others through unique focuses on the larger food system and networks. The school provides individuals, students, and professionals with world-class training at every point of their journey.

The Alice Walton School of Medicine, waiting to be certified, will be a four-year state-of-the-art medical degree program, adding to traditional medical education in a variety of ways. Funded by Alice Walton, Heiress of the Walton family fortune, the school plans to enroll its first class in 2025.

While the city’s education system is impressive, Bentonville is more than its top-rated schools and healthy housing market.

Businesses and Culinary Scene

Featuring countless local and national grocers, businesses, and restaurants within the city, business is booming within Bentonville.

Restaurants are one of the many claims to fame within the city, and many local hole-in-the-wall eateries serve mouth-watering dishes from various cultures. Farm-to-fork is a fact of life within the area, and with the culinary school within Bentonville’s borders, it’s a rich region of food opportunities.

Whether you like Mexican food, Asian staples, Pacific Island cuisine, American diners, or anything in between, the restaurant industry has your back. Is your stomach rumbling, but you don’t know where to start? There are countless guides to help you pick out what you like best, but here are a few of our favorites in the area. This is not an exhaustive list; if you’re looking for a place to eat, there are countless places to stop and grab world-class food.

The Witching Hour Burgers: a horror-themed food trailer serving killer burgers and fries, with their branding seared into every bun they serve.
Table Mesa: This Mexican restaurant, located on the Bentonville Square, offers local takes on brunch, lunch, and dinner options.
Tavola Trattoria: An upscale Italian restaurant offering generous portions of pasta and wine.
Gold Town Sushi and KBBQ: Bentonville’s most acclaimed Korean restaurant, serving tasteful, authentic food, blending the region’s love of BBQ with bento and sushi.
Crepes Paulette: Offering handheld crepes, both sweet and savory, it’s impossible not to find your niche within this menu, which offers vegan and vegetarian options.

There are also many local businesses to visit and shop at, with music stores, florists, jewelers, and more. You’re guaranteed to find your spot in one of the many local businesses that lovingly call Bentonville home.

Downtown Bentonville is also a place for the community to enjoy events like First Friday block parties, bar crawls, farmers markets (with an indoor option as fall begins), art markets, and more. Community is important to the identity of Bentonville, and downtown is the physical manifestation of that.

This city is also a playground to stretch your legs, nurture your knowledge, and indulge your inner history buff. Bentonville is the perfect place to strike that work/life balance you’ve been seeking.

Whether planning a relaxed weeknight or an action-packed weekend, Bentonville has you covered, all within its city limits. It’s easy to enjoy the vibes of a small city with the conveniences of a larger one.

Culture and Arts

Are you an arts and culture lover? Bentonville is perfect for you! The community’s deep appreciation for history and art is a thread that ties its residents together. You’ll find plenty to explore, from world-class museums featuring rotating collections of priceless art to exhibits showcasing native cultures of the Americas through prehistoric and historic artifacts.

These interesting museums present many opportunities for learning within Bentonville. They show the community’s appreciation for culture and offer exhibits to curious minds and history buffs to satisfy their thirst for knowledge.

Museum of Native American History

Located 8 minutes from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Museum of Native American History stands to advance understanding of human experience within diverse cultures while providing a space for learning through exploration. David Bogle, a member of the Cherokee Nation, founded the museum, which houses over 10,000 Native American artifacts found throughout Arkansas and the Americas.

From all eras of history, the museum has many exhibits on native cultures, hosts monthly storytelling with Native American voices, and plans many free events and activities throughout the year. The MONAH is a great place to view the history of America’s native people.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

It’s hard to talk about Bentonville without talking about Crystal Bridges. The nonprofit museum, funded by Alice Walton, Heiress of the Walton family fortune, welcomes everyone to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites arts and nature. The museum opened its doors in late 2011, and general admission has been free since.

Under a backdrop of nature and beautiful architecture by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the museum welcomes almost a million visitors annually and features a permanent collection and a year-round schedule of temporary and traveling exhibitions. This guarantees that no two visits are the same. Walking and biking trails lined with sculptures link Crystal Bridges’ 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville, making it very easy to come across some of the exhibits if you’re exploring many of the walkable trails that link the city.

The Momentary

A former cheese factory turned creative hub and sister to Crystal Bridges, this museum campus focuses on visual and performing arts, live music, food experiences, artists-in-residence, and more. It brings a modern feel to museum experiences and is tailored for those who appreciate unique art forms and concerts. The musical roster is stocked, featuring local artists, pop stars, and festivals alike.

Much like its sister, the Momentary features temporary and traveling exhibits within its space. The location features a sixth-floor ‘Tower Bar’ allowing gorgeous views, seen through the huge windows on the floor and all around the walls.

Scott Family Amazeum

The Amazeum is a children’s museum with an emphasis on hands-on exhibits. These installations engage visitors with the land, industries, and people who built and continue to sustain Arkansas culture. It’s a fun way to spend your day and an interesting way to teach children about science, the natural world, architecture, and more.

The Amazeum features around 50,000 square feet of exhibits and learning spaces to bring learning to life with family involvement, perfect for curiosity and discovery for young learners.

The Peel Museum and Botanical Gardens

The Peel Museum is a historic family home from the Civil War era available for free tours and events. Owned by the first native-born Arkansan to be elected to the United States Congress, the mansion will celebrate 150 years in 2025, cementing the home of the former lawyer, farmer, and Congressman during the reconstruction era as a timeless location in a beautiful town. This 14-room house with a basement and tower extends into a gorgeous garden.

The yard around the house is inspired by Victorian-era gardens and has blooms of the season. There are seven different plots featuring roses, herbs, vegetables, apples, and more! If you have allergies, it may be worth braving the scratchy throat and itchy eyes to witness in person. These floral gardens are nothing to sneeze at.

Bentonville History Museum

Although it’s grown in size, the history of Bentonville is just as deep and rich as the culture that calls it home in the present day. Countless stories are present within Bentonville’s history museum. Its role in airplane pioneering, stories of bank robbers coming through the area, and interesting ‘field finds’ picked up by people tending their fields are just a few of the many exhibits to be discovered.

The nonprofit aims to expose the community to a hands-on exploration of the Bentonville area’s culture, geography, music, history, and art through education. The museum aims to save the past for the future and loves to discuss history with visitors interested in this boomtown’s beginnings.

Outdoor Recreation

After walking around all of those quiet museums, it’s easy to slip into a rowdy mood and get stir-crazy. Exercising the brain by learning about the area’s rich history and pondering priceless art is always important, but what about exercising the body?

The question is, “Do you prefer the heart-pounding thrills of mountain biking? Are you just looking to throw on some headphones and take a nice walk through the park? Do you like to hike and run? What if you did all three? Bentonville offers this and more for people who want to connect with the nature around them.

Thaden Field

Did you know Bentonville has a flying scene, complete with a flight school and public airport? Thaden Field, named after the native-born, decorated female pilot Louise Thaden, offers flight history, discovery flights, outdoor activities, and a restaurant. The airspace operates as the only community private jet airport in Bentonville, just minutes from downtown.

Watching airplanes taking off and flying over brunch is a fantastic way for airplane enthusiasts to enjoy their day. If you have the flight tracker app on your phone and can identify the difference between a Cessna Skyhawk and a Piper PA-28 mid-flight, Thaden Field is where you belong.

Those interested in recreational and backcountry flying can speak with the flight club that calls Thaden its home. OZ1 focuses on making flying accessible to NWA and creating unique experiences for everyone.

Mountain Biking

Prefer the whizzing of chains and clacking of toothy gears? Lucky for you, Bentonville named itself as the “mountain biking capital of the world” for a reason! Every biking journey is unique, featuring over 70 miles of trails running through Bentonville and four hundred more award-winning miles waiting in NWA.

Bicycle groups and youth clubs upkeep the trail systems and develop them, so your ride is as beautiful as it is fun!

Cycling through these endless trails, you’ll discover art, restaurants, delicious drinks, and friendship among other mountain biking lovers! Whether you love a casual ride or heart-pounding skill courses, complete with gaps and drops, you’ll find your spot in Bentonville’s mountain biking community.

City Parks

While the awe of the natural wilderness around Bentonville is exciting to spend time in, tamed nature is just as fun. shaped trees and freshly cut biodiverse lawns make it easy to throw a blanket down and enjoy lunch. Bentonville has over 20 parks within its city limits, which means there is over one hundred acres of land you can enjoy. There’s no better place to throw a frisbee around or walk a few laps than one of the many parks peppering the area.

Compton Gardens is a special park on Bentonville’s roster of beautiful outdoor recreation areas. It is called an oasis in the heart of downtown Bentonville, standing as a 6.5-acre garden for local trees, flowers, and more. It’s a regional hotspot for meetings, photos, tours, and events. This park celebrates Ozark agriculture, thanks in part to the conservation efforts of the park’s namesake, Dr. Neil Compton, hailed as the hero and activist who led the fight to save the Buffalo river.

Osage Park is also a must-see. It is the ultimate urban park full of natural experiences and adventures. Champion archers, conservationists , and casual enjoyers of nature can enjoy Osage. Access the 12-acre wetland boardwalks, play pickleball, visit the dog park, learn archery, enjoy dinner at the food trucks, and connect with your environment from sunup to sundown!

Growth and Future

Bentonville is expected to grow within the next few years. Some even imagine that the population of the area will reach 100,000 by the decade’s end. Bentonville is the center of innovative business within the region, with the Fortune 1 giant, Walmart, calling it home. The collaborative nature of Bentonville, especially within the business sector, primes it to continue growing, with more businesses, families, and start-ups moving in every day.

Conclusion:

The energy of Bentonville is difficult to sum up in words and best experienced yourself.

The vastness of what this city offers is difficult to put into words.

The shotgun approach of writing about the culture, top-notch schools and jobs, a great housing market, and amazing quality of living is important. Still, it only sounds as good as a word-limited blog post allows.

Understanding what is important to you is key to your enjoyment of Bentonville. There’s a lot to do, and finding your place in this region can be challenging. You can discover yourself within nature, the security of a good job, and the enjoyment of local food and comforts.

It’s easy to fall in love with the area. Once you experience it, you won’t want to go back.

We’re not “New Austin;” we’re Bentonville, and that’s just the way we like it.