Fayetteville, AR Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Fayetteville, AR: What You Need to Know

Fayetteville in northwest Arkansas is the state’s third-largest city, next to Little Rock and Fort Smith. It’s home to the University of Arkansas.

The Local History

Fayetteville was initially called Washington during its founding in 1828. But the town changed its name to avoid confusion with Washington in Hempstead County. The county commissioners who chose the name Fayetteville were originally from Fayetteville, Tennessee. The city established the Arkansas Industrial University in 1872, which became the University of Arkansas in 1899.

Schools and Higher Education

There are 42 colleges within 100 miles of Fayetteville. The largest is the University of Arkansas (27,778 students), which has 10 colleges and offers more than 200 academic programs. The prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Program was created by J. William Fulbright, a graduate and former president of the university. The city’s 16 public schools (10,017 students) boast of an average math proficiency score of 60% versus the Arkansas average of 47%, and a reading proficiency score of 58%, higher than the 44% statewide average.

Weather and Climate

You can expect about 217 sunny days per year in Fayetteville versus the national average of 205 sunny days. The city gets about seven inches of snow annually, a lot less than the U.S. average of 28 inches. But on Jan. 26, 2009, Fayetteville experienced an accumulation of two inches of ice plus another couple of inches of snowfall. The snowstorm left more than 100,000 people without electricity and almost $80 million in damages across the area.

The Cost of Living in Fayetteville

A small town like Fayetteville (population: 87,590) offers many perks, including a laid-back pace and affordability. Its cost of living rate, food, and transportation costs are 11.8%, 5.5%, and 13.3% lower than the national average, respectively. The median gross rent in the city is $770. Newcomers to Arkansas are often surprised to discover that it has one of the highest income tax and sales tax rates in the country. The state levies 0% to 6.90% in income tax depending on one’s earnings and 6.50% to 11.625% in sales tax. Counties and cities collect additional sales taxes. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

If you’re thinking of renting in Fayetteville, you’ll be joining the majority of city residents who rent. Locals love the close-knit community fostered by the University of Arkansas. If you pick a downtown neighborhood, you’ll be able to enjoy the farmers market at the Square Gardens three times a week, from early April through November. Don’t want to live in a college town? Cave Springs is a quiet town with highly ranked schools. Bentonville, where Walmart is based, also has excellent schools. Both suburbs are within commuting distance of Fayetteville.