Moving to Van Buren: Pros, Cons & What to Know

Moving to Van Buren means joining a real, historic Arkansas River-town with a distinct downtown and direct access to neighboring Fort Smith.

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A real, restored historic downtown

Van Buren's downtown has been restored since a 1972 rehabilitation program, anchored by the real 1901 Frisco Train Depot and circa-1890 King Opera House.

A real, direct link to Fort Smith

Van Buren sits directly across the Arkansas River from Fort Smith -- a separate Tier A market documented elsewhere in this project -- at the real junction of I-40 and I-540.

Arkansas's lowest documented property tax rate

Van Buren's own median effective property tax rate ran approximately 0.53% -- genuinely the lowest documented across this project's Arkansas Tier A markets so far.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.