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by Cindy Schwalb, Kiplinger.com
FUNKY GREEN VALLEY
Population: 419,455
Population Growth Since 2000: 17.3%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.4%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $42,267
Income Growth Since 2000: 17.6%
This four-season, guitar-pickin’ university town, set in the foothills of the Ozarks, is serendipitously within reach of Wal-Mart’s corporate backyard. In the past decade, more than 1300 companies, P&G, PepsiCo and Pinnacle Foods, have built operations in the region to better serve their biggest customer, Wal-Mart.
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Take Our Walking Tour Through Fayetteville | ||
The mega-retailer’s move toward sustainability has also sparked a green industry movement in the area. The University of Arkansas, and the city of Fayetteville have been attracting businesses and start-ups with a sustainability spin in industries such as electronics, water purification, packaging, construction and lighting. Steve Rust, president of the Fayetteville Economic Development Council, says: “We want to become the Green Valley for sustainability.” The growth will bring economic stability and more knowledge-based jobs to the entire region.
Attractive, affordable housing adds to financial benefits of life in the area. You can still buy a starter home for under $200,000 in a new development with landscaped yards and a southern architectural flair. A 9.25% sales tax may shock some, but the cost of living in Fayetteville falls 10% below the national average. The region reports a robust 17.3% job growth since 2000.
Unique perks of Fayetteville living include free bus service for university students and residents. The weekly Farmer’s Market doubles as a no-fuss community social. Seniors over 65 may take university classes for free.
And the daily commute is a breeze, averaging about 16 minutes. Mike Malone, a D.C.-area transplant traded a traffic-packed trek to Capital Hill for an easier family lifestyle. He sounds still in disbelief when talking about his new four-minute commute from home atop Mt. Sequoia to his downtown office. The bottom line: “I can spend more time with my family,” he says.
Thanks in part to the university’s influence, Fayetteville has always had a unique vibe. Around here the official town slogan is “Keep Fayetteville Funky.
NOTE: Population statistics for Fayetteville, as with all of Kiplinger's Best Cites for 2008, reflect an estimated current projection based on the 2002 U.S. Census for the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) defined by the United States Census Bureau. This MSA encompasses Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville - a.k.a. Northwest Arkanssas.
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Reader Comments (32)
Posted by: 3angels at 06/03/2008 02:37:14 PM
...According to a special census in 2006, the population of Fayetteville is 67,158.
Posted by: Eleanor at 06/03/2008 02:41:17 PM
You're taking a four-county Metropolitan Statistical Area and giving it the population of Fayetteville, which had an estimated 68,000 population in 2006?...(you're giving it) a population that encompasses two counties in northwest Arkansas and two counties in Southeast Missouri.
Posted by: Sarah at 06/06/2008 10:15:14 PM
I live here, grew up here and even am a U of Ark alumni. I am very glad that someone has noticed our area. Yes, I see the notes about the "special census" but here you can't tell where one town ends and another begins. Yes, it is "two" counties, so we really call ourselves Northwest Arkansas (and only locally mention our specific town.) Also, the population of each of the towns here has grown by leaps and bounds since '06. Not only is Wal-Mart corporate in our little corner, but also Tyson Foods, Inc. the largest producer of chicken products. State of the art hospitals, fine dining and spectacular shopping. I also think the household income is lower. Only complaint I have about this area is the taxes, but I suppose they could be worse. Maybe the smaller population is a good thing to consider. It's a very down-to-earth place to live or visit.
Posted by: Cindy Schwalb at 06/12/2008 12:18:34 PM
Hi, I'm the Kiplinger editor who wrote the Fayetteville story for the Best Cities package. Population figures for Kiplinger's Best Cities package represent an estimate of today's Metropolitan Statistical Area, as determined by our master demographer for this series. Also, our coverage focuses on Fayetteville as well as the 2-county MSA. Hope this clears some of the confusion.
Posted by: Tammy King at 06/19/2008 01:46:08 PM
Even with both counties included in the metropolitan area, the population still wouldn't be 400,00. Probably 275,00 at the most.
Posted by: Former Resident at 06/19/2008 02:42:46 PM
How many small towns did they put together to get the population figure: I see: As of 2007, Fayetteville's population is 68,726 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 18.40 percent. The median home cost in Fayetteville is $252,600. Home appreciation the last year has been -1.72 percent.
Posted by: Chick R Us at 06/19/2008 02:46:11 PM
I worked in Fayetteville and it was fun, but it was not a good place to be single. I went out one day with someone who was local and everyone came by to check us out...
Posted by: Anne Long at 06/19/2008 03:27:25 PM
Mike Malone is one of the lucky few people around here to have such a wonderfully short commute. Northwest Arkansas is definitely a beautiful area--you should see the Fall foliage!--but the traffic congestion in this place is something else.
Posted by: Melanie at 06/19/2008 03:28:20 PM
I moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2005 from South Carolina. I love NWA! This area offers gorgeous scenery year round as we do experience all four seasons. There are tons of activities, both indoor and outdoors. If you crave a large city, Tulsa, OK is a two hour drive while Dallas, TX is six and KC, MO is about three. The only thing NWA lacks is an ocean! Must say I miss the beach during the summer time...but there's always Beaver Lake! Congrats F'ville!
Posted by: Kisma at 06/19/2008 05:14:30 PM
...Our city is very small, but has all of the perks of a big city. We have great night life, and designer stores all around us. Also the Walton Arts Center brings in the best shows from New York, and the Fayetteville Public Library has won library of the year. I do agree about the taxes being a little high, buy overall, this is a great place to live.
Posted by: Paul Justus at 06/19/2008 05:49:45 PM
When one looks at the population of the Northwest Arkansas region things can easily get confused. The name of our Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers. Currently this MSA actually covers four counties, including Madison County, AR to the east and McDonald County, MO to the north. However, our transportation study area consists of just Benton and Washington counties. When people in this area refer to Northwest Arkansas, they usually mean Benton and Washington counties. The official U.S. Census estimated the population of the four-county MSA to be 435,714 on July 1, 2007 and 397,399 for Benton and Washington Counties. Projections of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission indicate that the population of the two-county area will be about 422,000 at the end of 2008. This may be a little high due to a slowdown in residential construction experienced here and throughout the country. However, a current estimate by Kiplinger of 419,455 for the two-county area is, in my opinion, quite accurate. Regards, Paul Justus Regional Planner NWARPC
Posted by: Matt at 06/19/2008 06:29:17 PM
Tammy King, If you are really interested.. quickfacts.census.gov will clear it up for you. washington and benton counties population as of july 2006 (382,566) You brought a whole new meaning of think before you speak.
Posted by: Dennis at 06/19/2008 06:31:17 PM
The MSA includes Washington, Benton and Madison counties in Arkansas and McDonald County in Missouri. Estimated population of Washington County in 2006 was 186,521 and estimated population of Benton County in 2007 was 203,107. Those alone add up to almost 390,000. Slightly more than someone's 275,000 tops figure.
Posted by: tom at 06/19/2008 06:39:22 PM
Cindy Schwalb, i think you did a great story on Fayetteville! Northwest Arkansas is a very nice region and after my service in the military I plan on moving to that area. I think all the fuss about the population of the area is silly. It should be quality not quantity that counts. Cheers!
Posted by: vlander77 at 06/20/2008 10:09:50 AM
I'm a lucky girl/homesick girl! I recently left Fayetteville, AR to relocate to Raleigh, NC #2 on the list. Northwest Arkansas, as someone already pointed out, runs together and makes a community very similar to the other large cities that are on the list. Don't sell Fayetteville short because of its size! You can't bet the people here! Dickson Street and the Square keep the small town charm and soul alive. Nothing beats a night at George's listening to live music after dinner on the patio at Common Grounds.
Posted by: Rebecca at 06/20/2008 11:11:17 AM
My family moved here about 3 years ago from Nashville, TN and I have to say this area is one of the best places to live, work, and play. Although the city of Fayetteville does not have 400,000 + people in it, the entire area of Northwest Arkansas does. Since I have been here in my 3 years I have seen much change and growth. Kiplinger.com said traffic is good and only takes 15 minutes to get across town...that's an understatement. Because the area is growing so quickly, the roads and expansion efforts cannot keep up. It ends up taking more like 30 minutes to go 10-12 miles.
Posted by: earlc at 06/20/2008 05:30:21 PM
My wife and i relocated to fayetteville about one year ago. I, from Nashville,Tn. She from rural Arkansas. I have lived all over this country including several places on your list all I can say is that after all these years and all these moves I have finally found my home. I will never move again. It is the best place that I have ever lived. You cannot beat the cost of living here. You can still buy a home for under 100k jobs are plentifull. Shopping, restaurants,easy traffic and opportunities galore. But I will tell you the best thing about our little town is the people that live here. I have never been around a more polite, nice to others group of people like we have here. And whats really cool about living here in the city is that within a 10 minute drive in any direction you can be smack dab out in the country enjoying the beautiful landscape of the Ozarks or the Rivers or Lakes or Farmlands that surround us here.
Posted by: GreenBlogger at 06/20/2008 09:05:26 PM
Calling Northwest Arkansas "Green Valle"y is a joke. I moved to Fayetteville from Portland, OR for work last year and there is nothing "sustainable" about the region except some buyer at Wal-Mart is buying stuff to sell into their 3,000+ stores everywhere else. Public transportation is non-existent - you'll starve without a car; No mass transit; No light rail; No carpooling; no bike lanes; no park-n-ride lots; curbside recycling is a tiny box – with only a few things taken by the local trash service. Only a handful of buildings in the entire state are "LEED-certified." While it’s trendy and a noble ambition to be green, Northwest Arkansas, with only 400,000 people, and a mayor out-of-touch with a green reality, has embraced a lifestyle of suburban and semi-rural sprawl and an infrastructure dependent on automobile-based transportation to feed it...Sure, you drive ten minutes out of town and it’s a pretty forest. But peel away the hype and you’ll see the region is at least a generation or two behind the real green communities like Portland, Seattle, even San Francisco.
Posted by: George at 06/21/2008 09:00:32 AM
Greenblogger, give it time! It is an up and coming area. Waste management (who runs the only landfill in NWA) does however work under the strictest rules and regulations. AERT advanced environmental recycling technologies (located in springdale) is pretty cool too. Lightrail mass transit is in the planning stages but i bet we won't see that for a while! But give it time, once the economy bounces back places all over America will come up!
Posted by: Michelle at 06/21/2008 01:19:14 PM
As a Northwest Arkansas Native and a University of Arkansas Graduate, I think the article is great, except for one thing - you focused on the wrong city. Rogers is really where the growth and business is. Fayetteville is seen as anti-growth and is slowly losing business, while the cities north of Fayetteville are growing at a huge rate and their names are not included in the article. Fayetteville gets to fail the test, but gets patted on the back by the teacher. The cost of living and housing is also off. It is cheaper to live in Benton County vs. Washington Co. - Fayetteville....Rogers - Mayor Womack has lead the area into the 21st century - just visit the Pinacle Hills area. Rogers/Bentonville - Benton county is were all the companies are coming aside from P&G. I love Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville included - I just think you need to give credit to the proper location.
Posted by: Scott at 06/22/2008 05:29:24 PM
...I have been around, and lived in a LOT of places and Fayetteville has always drawn me back.
Posted by: Becky at 07/26/2008 10:01:17 AM
The population...is closer to 60,000.
Posted by: Jethro at 07/26/2008 10:24:48 AM
Better school systems, lower crime, a 15 minute commute vs. an hour each day, 4 seasons, and on and on. I have lived in N.W. Arkansas raising children and Houston also. For me and mine it is a no brainer to raise kids and live in the Fayetteville, NW Ar. area. Fresh streams and not the intense heat that you get in other places. Just a great place to live.
Posted by: ether at 08/12/2008 07:01:26 PM
The population figures you attribute to Fayetteville -- and not the whole northwest Arkansas, two county region - are clearly misleading, and clearly wrong. Either your master demographer is a buffoon, or did not do his/her fact-checking. No point in making lame excuses. Kiplinger messed up.
Posted by: ether at 08/12/2008 07:05:22 PM
Kiplinger's population estimate might have been accurate if they had attributed it to the whole of northwest Arkansas, not Fayetteville, which the article clearly does. Can anybody tell the truth anymore?
Posted by: Mark at 08/17/2008 10:24:54 AM
...its hard to just focus on Fayetteville when the area as a whole is amazing. Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista... they are all amazing towns and I'm very proud that I went to school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Ether, have you ever been there?
Posted by: Gino at 01/02/2009 12:07:37 AM
Sounds very nice but least we forget it belongs to Arkansas...At least its not Mississippi.
Posted by: Larry at 01/29/2009 01:58:03 PM
Gino, How ARE things in the great state of Mississippi? You seem to know it well. I live in WDC but grew up in NW Arkansas and plan on retiring there. Even though Fayetteville still has a "rural" side - which is not a bad thing - it's also a "blue" enclave within a "red" state and, overall, quite a progressive and very livable small city.
Posted by: Rachel at 05/14/2009 11:13:44 AM
Phew! With some of those negative comments I'm kinda happy those people DIDN'T like NWA...it leaves it to the people that truly belong here. My fiance and I moved here about two months ago from Chicago. We are the happiest we have ever been. I'm DELIGHTED there is no mass public transit system, as they fall apart in the cities and spending seems to be cut for maintenance year after year. I'm sorry we don't have public transportation (not), but it's definitely a fortunate thing Arkansans like to depend on themselves instead of the government (public transportation) to do everything for them. Automobile transporation=freedom down here instead of waiting for a bus that may show up 45 minutes late to take you to a train that isn't working. This little corner of the state is amazing-I'm sad people blow it off because it's "Arkansas" but at the same time ecstatic. There are REAL people down here instead of drones that don't know the meaning of common courtesy, politeness, and community. I am absolutely thrilled to call Rogers home and we do not ever plan to leave. Thank god for the Natural State.
Posted by: J Fleming at 08/10/2009 05:02:31 PM
I agree, when you look at this area you have to look beyond Fayetteville... This area is referred to as Northwest Arkansas.. With Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista and Eureka Springs. These is a great Lake involved as well... Beaver Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the State... Also, Kansas City is 3 hrs away, St Louis is about 5 hrs, Dallas is 6 hrs, Tulsa is 2 hrs, OKC, 3 hrs.. an airport that fly you to NYC or Miami or Denver or Chicago in 1-3 hrs. on direct flights... I grew up here, I do miss the old days when you knew everyone here... but this area in contrast to others of its size is a GREAT area! Feel free to come visit for yourself!
Posted by: Nick and Edna at 09/24/2009 02:34:30 AM
Having to do our homework first, my wife and I are thinking of coming to America to live and work. I am British and a science teacher. My wife is Filipina and a sales executive. Just beginning our research, Fayetteville in Arkansas looks the favorite at the moment with Omaha, Nebraska coming in second. Does anyone have any comments or information about these two cities/states they can share with us, plus any other information you think we may need to know?
Posted by: Brooke at 11/04/2009 10:09:00 PM
I agree almost completely on this article except one fact. Jobs! I have lots of friends who have been laid off and have been job searching well on four months or longer with no luck. My husband has found little no work in the building industry and this includes remodels and add ons. I myself have been unable to find work and have been searching for the past three months. I have even tried local fast food establishments out of desperation. I found this article only because I was researching another place to live where there is more employment available. Other than the before mentioned, Northwest Arkansas is a wonderful place to live and raise children.