Though Arkansas does not rank with the top states in terms of public safety and law enforcement, very safe communities are to be found within its borders. Here’s a glance at The Natural State’s safest cities.

Two Arkansas cities, Maumelle and Bentonville, share the honor of the state’s safest city, each earning a 0.32 score in our Safety Index. Of the two cities, Bentonville edges out Maumelle in crime rate, with a 1.4 per 1,000 violent crime rate and 17.54 per 1,000 property crime rate. Yet, Maumelle benefits from a higher law enforcement employee to resident ratio, which elevates its Safety Index score, allowing it to share the top spot on the list.

Third in rank is Cabot, a suburb of state capital Little Rock, posted a very good 2.18 violent crimes per 1K and an even more impressive 15.54 property crimes per 1K to earn its high Safety Index score.

Fourth on the list is the idyllic resort and retirement community of Bella Vista, which just incorporated into a city in 2006. WIth the lowest property crime rate of any of Arkansas top five safest cities, Bella Vista residents can rest easy knowing there is little chance of their homes or property being vandalized or broken into.

Arkansas #5 safest city is Batesville, a small community of 10,806 in the foothills of the Ozarks that just edges within our population parameters. The city’s violent and property crime rates are well below the state average.