Is Cherokee Village the best place to retire in Arkansas? According to citytistics.com it is. They go on to say Cherokee Village has something for everyone. Great places to live are affordable, safe, have a variety of amenities, diverse and have job availability. While Cherokee Village isn't highly rated in all areas, it definitely has more pro's than con's!
People are very kind, the nature is abundant, and it is very affordable on many levels.
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WORST THINGS FIRST:
PESTS: Unfortunately, there are several
- mosquitos/spiders(brown recluse worst) ticks-different types cause different problems
- they are annoying and carry illnesses: West Nile, Alpha-gal syndrome or Lyme Disease.
- copperhead and rattlesnakes, deer, racoons also get into your yard because of rural living
- bites are possible, can get into your garden and bring other pests like fleas/ticks
- To deter, don't leave food out or using fencing to protect your home and garden
POPULATION: We are not a city!
- CV has about 5000 population making it a cozy community
- High poverty rate due to our low cost of living; we tend to draw those who make less because they know they can get by easier
- Not diverse area
- Average age is around 50 years old and about 3 people per household. Even though Cherokee Village was designed as a retirement community, we need supporting professionals to care for them and work at the stores, which causes the age and house size to be larger
JOB AVAILABILITY: We are rural!
- Unemployment is higher here than the national average
- Arkansas minimum wage is above federal minimum wage but lower than other areas; Your money goes farther with low cost of living
- Emerson, school district, healthcare are our biggest employers
BEST THINGS ABOUT CHEROKEE VILLAGE AR:
YOU ARE ENTERING THE SOUTH:
- Use your Ma'am or Sir or address a person politely with a Mr or Ms (followed by first or last name), open a door for someone
- Everything is slower here; there is no way around it you just have to learn to deal with it and be prepared
WEATHER:
- Enjoy all four seasons: we generally have mild & comfortable temperatures throughout the year. Depending on your preference, you may not need a coat!
- Average High in January is 45 and low is about25 (the coldest month); July's high is usually around 90 and a low of 65 (the hottest month). We can have snow or ice anywhere from November to March, but usually it comes around mid - February.
- Humidity is an issue and it will effect your hair--or at least it does mine! My relatives from New Mexico and Texas say it is very humid, but I remember my Iowa days and its about the same.
EXPLORE:
- Enjoy outdoor waterways and wilderness. There is a ton of undeveloped land and state parks to enjoy.
- There is over 9,000 miles of streams, creek & rivers
- There are over 600,000 acres of lakes in AR. 600 acres in Cherokee Village alone
- Plus, we have tons of places to float, fish, swim boat and hunt
TAXES:
- We do have income taxes her but we are the 10th lowest in the nation
- There is $375 homestead credit on your primary residence. You can also be exempt from taxes if you are disable veteran and lock your taxes in once you are over 65 (taxes won't go up).
- Sales tax 6.5% and income 6.9%, which is lower than National. Arkansas governor is working on eliminating income taxes; they were lowered in 2021 and more credits are expected in 2022.
FEW CHAINS: Small town Mom & Pops's allows you to support small business's
- We don't have Home Depot but we do have B&B supply in Highland and Franklin
- We don't have Maurice's but we do have Jades for fashion
- We don't have Lowe's but we do have Johnson Supply for hardware needs
- We don't have Petco but we do have Tri County Farm & Ranch and grooming
- We DO have a Walmart in Ash Flat, but if you prefer there is a Harps in Highland or Bills in Hardy
CULINARY DREAM:
- We don't have Applebees but we do have Meachum's which is known for it's huge onion rings
- We don't have Lotus but we do have Chokdee Thai in Ash Flat
- We don't have a Dominos but we do have Rebel Timeout in Highland, known for pizza, wings & gumbo
- We don't have a Chichis but we do have El Palenque, a Mexican restaurant in Ash Flat
- We don't have Corkeys BBQ but we do have Smokin' Ricks in Hardy
#1 reason Cherokee Village is the best place to retire in AR: AFFORDABLE
- Arkansas makes the top 10 list of most affordable states
- It is easier to get higher quality at lower price
- We are lower than the nation and most states when it comes to housing, groceries, healthcare and taxes!
Every place will have its Pro's & Con's, but because of low cost of living, mild and comfortable climate and great places to shop and eat, Cherokee Village is the best place to retire in Arkansas!
