Rent vs buy in Bentonville, AR

The typical rent in Bentonville, Arkansas is $1,651 a month, while a typical home costs $490,040.

Rent

Renting comes out ahead by $109k across 7 years

Based on Bentonville's typical rent and home value, the figures use 20% down and today's mortgage rate. No break-even point occurs during the first 30 years.

A clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjusting any figure also adjusts the stamp.

Renting leads by: $109k
Break-even point: At least 30 years
Full ownership cost: $4,193 each month

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In Bentonville, is renting or buying cheaper?

Over 7 years, renting costs $109,381 less, including the money you receive when you sell. In every year displayed, renting's net cost remains under owning's cost, and owning won't catch up within 30 years.

Renting Cost of owning Net cost so far for each year

Bentonville's average rent compared with its mortgage payment

Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story, so here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Bentonville's typical price.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$1,651	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$2,672	$2,355 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$274	0.67% of the value a year
Insurance	$155	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$408	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$3,509	$317 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$797	Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$204	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$4,193	Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines listed above

The numbers behind Bentonville's verdict

Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026: $490,040
Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026: $1,651 /mo
Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model: 20%
Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
Home price growthFHFA house price index, Arkansas, 1995 to 2025: 3.8% a year
Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026: 3.5% a year
Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025: 8.3% a year
Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bentonville: 0.67% of value
Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bentonville: $155 /mo
MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%: 1% of value a year
Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%: 3.5% of price
Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs: 6% of price

What would flip the result in Bentonville?

For Bentonville, each line marks where the 7-year verdict changes, with all other factors staying as they are.

When renting has the advantage

Home prices grow more slowly than 6.4% each year. Our calculation uses 3.8%, Arkansas's long-run rate.
[li] The mortgage rate remains above 3.21%.
A comparable home rents for under $2,820 monthly, compared with the local typical $1,651.
If you move during the next 30 years, owning still won't catch up with these figures.

When buying has the advantage

Home prices grow by more than 6.4% a year.
Today's rate is 7.24%, and you lock in a mortgage rate below 3.21%.
Monthly rent for the same home would exceed $2,820.

How Bentonville compares with the other 812 cities

Measure	Bentonville	Median city
Typical home value	$490,040	$422,451
Typical rent	$1,651 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	24.7 (#149 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	8.3% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	5.1% a year	4% a year
Property tax	0.67%	0.87%
Households that rent	50%	42%

Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

Cities in Arkansas besides Bentonville

Renting wins by $15k in Little Rock, AR.
Renting wins by $54k in Fayetteville, AR.

Arkansas rent vs buy numbers