Where is Farmington, Arkansas? Have you thought about relocating to Northwest Arkansas but don’t know which city to call home? What about Farmington, Arkansas?
The pros of Farmington, Arkansas, include having easy access to I-49, it’s close to Fayetteville, and they have good schools. The cons of Farmington, Arkansas, are that there aren’t a lot of restaurants in the area, the main road is a popular highway, and it’s a pass-through city.
Today, we’re going to discuss Farmington, Arkansas, and the pros and cons of the city. Stick around and learn more, and who knows? You might find a new home!
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Farmington Pros
Farmington, Arkansas, is located on the west side of Fayetteville, right off the MLK, which is a major intersection highway on the south side of Fayetteville. The highway runs from the east side to the west side, and part of the west side of Fayetteville lies Farmington, which has a population of around 8,000.
So let’s take a look at some of Farmington’s pros.
Easy Access to I-49
I-49 is the major highway that runs north and south through Arkansas and connects the entire area. Farmington has easy access to the interstate, which means that if you want to be closer to work or have quick access to the highway, Farmington is the place to be.
If you’re moving here, you want to be close to the interstate, as it can get you where you want to go a lot faster. Of course, if you live closer to downtown Rogers, you’ll be further away, but you’ll still be fine, as there’s still a lot to do in Rogers.
Close to Fayetteville
Farmington is very close to Fayetteville. In fact, it’s so close that when you’re driving west out of Fayetteville into Farmington, you wouldn’t know where one ended and one began unless you see the “Welcome to Farmington” sign.
And on that drive on MLK Jr Blvd, there are so many businesses that you don’t really have a sense of a separation between the two cities.
So you’re literally just a few minutes away from downtown Fayetteville. When you live in Farmington and need to get anywhere, such as the university, or go to a game, it’s literally down the road.
Good Schools
If you’re looking for a great school system, Farmington is in the top three great school districts in the area, with only Bentonville and Fayetteville being above them.
Farmington school district shows up at the top for test scores and other ranking factors, but they also have a high teacher-to-student ratio with a small-town vibe. There are larger schools in Fayetteville, but many parents seem to prefer Farmington.
Mount Kessler
My favorite thing about Farmington is that it backs up to Mount Kessler, which is part of a mountain range including Mount Centennial and Mount Sequoia.
But Mount Kessler has about 30 miles of trails that people take advantage of. In fact, many people will drive to the base, park, and then hike or bike the trails from the trailhead that’s between Farmington and Fayetteville on Smokehouse Road.
It actually separates Farmington and Fayetteville, so residents on both sides have easy access to it. And on the backend is a large, regional park you can enjoy before or after exploring the trails.
Large Parks
Farmington has a very large park with the following amenities:
- Basketball courts
- Pickleball courts
- Golf course
- Frisbee area
They’re expanding this park in the near future to include even more of the above, plus large playgrounds for the kids.
Because of the larger parks, there are usually more outdoor events held at these parks. Farmington puts a lot of money and effort into building and maintaining the parks. With a lot of trees, picnic facilities, and recreational areas, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in Farmington.
Affordable Housing
While Northwest Arkansas is known for its affordable housing, the next pro about Farmington, Arkansas, is that housing in this area is even more affordable than other areas in NWA. The reason for this is that Farmington is still an undiscovered area, so it’s not that popular yet.
West Fayetteville does very well concerning affordable housing, but it’s growing quite quickly, and real estate prices are rising. Farmington is growing fast as well, but for the time being, housing remains affordable.
Again, if you are concerned with easy access to the interstate and Fayetteville and you need affordable housing, definitely keep Farmington in mind.
Small Town Vibe
Farmington is smaller than Fayetteville, and even though it’s growing, it still has that small-town vibe that a lot of people like. As you drive on the main road through town, you’ll notice the small-town shops, community centers, churches, and parks that might give you the impression that you’re not anywhere near a larger city.
Of course, this might change in the future, but for now, it’s a great place to raise a family or get away from the city.
Farmington Cons
While there are a lot of great things going for Farmington, there are some disadvantages we need to discuss about Farmington.
Pass-Through City
As much as it has going for it, Farmington is a pass-through city, which means that there’s no downtown section to stop, walk around, and have some coffee. It feeds off of Fayetteville’s downtown section, and since it’s so close, most people go there instead.
But Farmington has Creekside Park, which is the location for several events, including a Farmer’s Market. If you enjoy a downtown area, you’re close enough to Rogers, Bentonville, and Fayetteville, so this isn’t as much of a con as it could be.
Main Road Is a Highway
The main road that goes through Farmington is a major highway, so that might be off-putting to some people. It gets busy at times because many people pass through Prairie Grove, Farmington, and Fayetteville to get to I-49.
The 5-lane highway cuts through Farmington, giving you easy access to the interstate. The downside is that it can get very busy at times.
Now, you know that I come from Chicago, so my version of busy traffic might be different than someone who might have come from a small town. So it’s not a problem for me, but someone who might have lived here forever will tell you that it’s gotten busier within the last few years.
Not Many Restaurants
Farmington doesn’t have that many restaurants in the area, which might be a con for some people. We have a great Starbucks, Mexican and Chinese food and a Dominoes. But other than that, you’ll need to go to Fayetteville or Bentonville for other types of cuisine.
This might change in the future as more businesses come to the area and expand out of Fayetteville. But at the moment, there are not that many choices.
Conclusion
Farmington, Arkansas, has several things going for it and is a place you might want to look at when considering a move to Northwest Arkansas. While it’s not a large urban center, it’s growing and has several perks you might enjoy.
If you’re coming to the area to look around, let me know, and I’ll give you the $10 tour.