Bentonville vs Lexington
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $293,500 in Lexington and $428,500 in Bentonville.
- Households earn more in Bentonville ($112,792 vs $69,479 median).
- Bentonville has more scorching days: 46 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 25.
- Bentonville is growing faster: +16.3% since 2020 vs +2.2%.
Side by side
| Bentonville, AR | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 63,057 | 329,751 |
| Growth since 2020 | +16.3% | +2.2% |
| People per square mile | 1,778 | 1,162 |
| Median age | 32.5 | 35.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $112,792 | $69,479 |
| Median home value | $428,500 | $293,500 |
| Home value to income | 3.8× | 4.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,344 | $1,164 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.4 | 92.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 76.9 | 77.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,500 | $69,700 |
| Homeowners | 50% | 54% |
| Top state income tax | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.48% | 6% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 19.0 | 20.9 |
| Work from home | 20% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 14.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 46° / 24° | 42° / 25° |
| July high / low | 89° / 67° | 87° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 47 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 10 in | 15 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 46 | 25 |
| Nights below freezing | 101 | 90 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 88.7 | 92.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 83% | 73% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +6.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +58.1% | +52.5% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Bentonville: September to October. Lexington: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Bentonville weather by month and Lexington weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,500 in Bentonville and $69,700 in Lexington. Moving from Bentonville to Lexington, you would need about $76,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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