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I don’t know if you heard…but I moved to Arkansas! I left Seattle in early April, leaving behind nearly 18 years of history and landed in Bentonville, Arkansas.
I moved to Seattle in 2004 to attend the University of Washington. After a couple of short summers in Wisconsin and Brooklyn during college, Seattle was home from 2004 to 2022!
Enjoying a sunset on a rooftop parking garage in Bentonville, Arkansas
So why in the world did I uproot everything and move to Bentonville, Arkansas? Well, a few reasons…the biggest is that I simply wanted a change. It honestly wasn’t until I quit my corporate job in August 2021 that I realized I wasn’t tied down to Seattle anymore. (And sure, I technically could’ve transferred locations, but I had a pretty sweet gig going there at Corporate Headquarters.)
I also wanted to save money. Because I was no longer working corporate America, I also no longer had the sweet corporate salary. Even my relatively cheap (for Seattle prices) $1500/month rent was a stretch on my new freelancer/entrepreneur/influencer/professional cyclist budget.
To be 100% transparent, I really hadn’t intended to move to Arkansas. Once I made the decision that I was moving, I made a list of “must haves” in my new home:
Affordability
Access to the outdoors, especially camping, hiking, and water
Sunshine (i.e. better weather than Seattle. I was over near constant seasonal depression.)
A strong bicycle community
Once I clarified my values in a community, I made a short list of places I thought would tick those boxes: Portland, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. With family in Kansas City, I pretty quickly landed on that option and began to make plans to move.
And then…everything changed. I found MakeMyMove.com and applied on a whim to relocate to Northwest Arkansas. If I got the grant, I’d get $10,000 cash to help with moving expenses, plus a bike (or in my case, a membership to one of the local cultural institutions. The last thing I need is another bike…)
Long story short, I got the grant and the decision was made. I figured if I absolutely hated it, I only had to stay for 1 year. While I’m not making any promises because who knows where life will lead, so far, I’m absolutely loving living here and don’t anticipate moving anytime soon. So why do I like it so much here?
My Five Favorite Things about Living in Northwest Arkansas
Cost of Living
Bentonville has a 41.2% lower cost of living than Seattle. Everything from pet licenses ($72 in Seattle, $6 in Bentonville) to food is cheaper. I currently pay $500 less in rent per month in Arkansas…and have a bunch more space, including a yard, garage, shed, and three bedrooms! With inflation, prices are definitely rising down here too, but it’s definitely much more affordable than Seattle.
Bikes Bikes Bikes
The bike scene in Northwest Arkansas is absolutely amazing and growing more every single day. Within Bentonville itself, there are more than 300 miles of trails and single-track, accessible from my front door!
Most of this is thanks to the Walton family (founders of Walmart) who have used the Walton Family Foundation to build a ton of recreational trails. Tons of big players in the bike industry have set up shop here, including People for Bikes, Strider, Specialized, and Rapha - with more joining all the time.
For example, this October over the course of one week, all of the following bike events are happening in Bentonville: The UCI Cyclocross World Cup, People For Bike’s SHIFT Conference, Outerbike, All Bodies on Bikes Chapter Retreat, and Big Sugar Gravel race. Seriously, Northwest Arkansas is the place to be if you’re into bikes.
Surprising Cultural Amenities
For a small town, Bentonville punches way above its weight in terms of museums and cultural things to do. Nearly all of the museums are free, including Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, The Native American History Museum, and The Walmart Museum. There’s also a really rad kids museum, a public archery range, loads of playgrounds, and frequent festivals.
I was lucky enough to get to attend the Bentonville Film Festival, where I participated in a number of panels, including Fat in Film! It was so cool to have this happening literally just down the street from me!
Access to the Outdoors
Development is happening quickly around here, but there is still amazing access to the outdoors. Out my front door, I can ride 2 blocks and be in the middle of the woods. Three miles the other way and there’s a perfect swimming hole. Within a half hour drive, there are two state parks, the Buffalo National Scenic River, and the Ozark Mountains!
Sure, you have to check yourself for ticks, and mosquito repellent is an absolute must, but I’m really enjoying being this close to the outdoors. There is so much to explore that I haven’t even begun to tap into!
People are Friendly
Arkansas is definitely the south. Whether its at the grocery store or walking down the street, everyone has a friendly word to say to you. It’s been pretty easy to find community, especially as there are a ton of fellow transplants here also looking for their people. I will admit that I have been invited to church more than once, but so far everyone has been polite when I decline.
So did I convince you to come visit me? I’ve got lots of extra bikes, a guest bedroom, and currently, a really amazing garden with tons of fresh veggies up for the taking.