Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is crushing it as a prime location for remote workers. With beautiful outdoor adventures, cultural sophistication, and plenty of entrepreneurial opportunities, NWA has become the ideal remote work spot in the South. For tech workers in search of a new adventure, NWA offers the perfect combination of nature and professional opportunity. Here’s why an increasing number of remote workers are choosing to settle down in Northwest Arkansas.
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An outdoor lifestyle
For anyone who feels stifled from being cooped up inside an office all day, NWA offers an amazing outdoor lifestyle that blends work with the wilderness. For example, Ledger – a coworking space in Bentonville – was built as the world’s first bikeable building. Bentonville is already home to a ton of bike trails, and a bikeable building is just icing on the cake. At Ledger, there are multiple meeting rooms, communal spaces, and amenities on campus to suit the needs of all types of remote workers.
Remote workers who love the outdoors flock to Bentonville – a city that has become a mountain biking mecca thanks to its incredible trails. From 2020-2023 the city grew by 9.8%, drawing an outdoor-loving crowd eager to get out of the city. When you live in Bentonville you don’t need to plan all your trail rides for the weekend. You can start any day at your desk and end it on the trail.
Cool incentives
Many states have started offering financial incentives for people looking for a new place to call home. In 2020, the Northwest Arkansas Council launched the “Life Works Here” initiative – a generous incentive to attract new residents that offered $10,000 and a new mountain bike. The program was aimed at remote tech workers and generated more than 66,000 applications. By 2022, one hundred remote workers were accepted into the program. Those approved received $5,000 after signing a lease or buying a home and were given the remaining $5,000 after six months of residency. It was a sweet deal. And while this program has ended, there could be another in the future.
Other incentives involve tech talent development programs like the Technology Apprenticeship Program that provides tech training to existing employees. There’s also the NWA Tech Academy that provides software development interns to employers with expert mentors as a turnkey solution.
G.B Cazes from The Emory Group has been working with the city of Fayetteville to make the NWA region a training hub for tech talent. The goal is to create a national model for training tech workers to close the talent gap. It may not be the next Silicon Valley (yet), but NWA is quickly becoming a tech hub for remote workers of all kinds.
| Incentive / Program | What It Is | Who It Targets | Status / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Works Here (NWA Council) | $10,000 incentive plus a new mountain bike to attract new residents to NWA. | Remote tech workers considering relocating to Northwest Arkansas. | Generated 66,000+ applications; 100 remote workers accepted by 2022. Program has ended but similar efforts may appear in the future. |
| Technology Apprenticeship Program | Tech training program designed to upskill existing employees. | Employees seeking hands-on training to move into or advance in tech roles. | Helps build local tech talent and supports long-term career growth in the region. |
| NWA Tech Academy | Provides software development interns to employers, guided by expert mentors. | Aspiring software developers and companies needing ready-to-contribute tech interns. | Turnkey solution for employers; accelerates workforce development and practical experience for students. |
| Regional Tech Training Hub Initiative | Collaboration led by G.B. Cazes and The Emory Group to make NWA a national model for tech training. | Tech workers and employers across NWA aiming to close the tech talent gap. | Strengthens NWA’s position as an emerging tech hub and supports long-term remote and local tech careers. |
NWA is affordable yet connected
NWA has been quietly transforming into a magnet for talented tech professionals who used to think they needed to live in high priced tech centers like Silicon Valley. The skyrocketing housing costs in San Francisco, Austin, and Seattle are driving people to cheaper locations with just as much tech buzz. Remote work makes it easier for professionals in software development, data analytics, and UX design to ditch their overpriced apartments without losing touch with their tech ecosystem.
Cities in NWA offer a lifestyle balance you can’t find in a big city by pairing affordability with access to big-name employers like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt, among others. Out of state techies are realizing there’s more than one version of Silicon Valley, and the NWA version comes with Ozark views, bike trails, and a drastically lower rent bill.
AI jobs are growing
Northwest Arkansas has become one of the fastest emerging hotspots for AI job growth next to Austin and Raleigh. This rise is driven by AI-powered retail operations, supply chain logistics, and smaller AI-focused startups getting their start in NWA. Although its unexpected, AI careers in NWA are flourishing.
Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, is one of the biggest employers of tech talent in the region. Its investments in AI-powered retail operations have created a high demand for data scientists, machine learning engineers, and software developers. Whether it’s predictive inventory management or cashierless checkout systems, Walmart is leading the way with AI technology in retail.
Other companies are using AI-driven logistics to drive growth. For example, everything from delivery routes to warehouse robotics benefit from AI systems. Local companies are investing in these technologies to stay competitive. In addition to big corporations, smaller AI startups – like Xtremis – are thriving thanks to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in NWA. The company paid the University of Arkansas $1.1 million for 620 acres that used to be the SEFOR nuclear reactor test site just 21 miles from Fayetteville.
Population growth
Some techies want peace and quiet but not to the extreme of feeling isolated in a small town. Thankfully, NWA is growing fast. Bentonville alone saw a population increase of 2.7% in 2023, and the region as a whole has grown by nearly 10%. The NWA metro area is projected to surpass one million residents by 2050, and remote workers are fueling this momentum.
Tech professionals are leaving overcrowded cities like Nashville, Dallas, Seattle, and Atlanta, and making NWA their new home. The perks are unbeatable. In addition to a lower cost of living there’s no gridlock traffic or urban sprawl.
New homes
Thanks to the increase in population, many brand new home builds are becoming available as developers move to meet the growing demand. Cities like Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Rogers give newcomers a choice between suburban neighborhoods, modern condos, and rural retreats. Although the high demand has increased prices, it’s still far cheaper than the big tech cities.
Amazing culture
NWA is fancy meets funky. While much of the South is still going for cultural credibility, Northwest Arkansas provides a mix of museums, indie festivals, and artistic events. This blend of sophistication and quirk makes NWA a magnet for creative professionals who want culture without the hassle of living in Los Angeles or New York.
- The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Now a cultural landmark, this museum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year with its Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and incredible exhibits.
- The Momentary. An innovative art and performance space located in a converted cheese factory, The Momentary blends live music, modern installations, and experimental performances.
- Bentonville Film Festival. Every summer, this film festival brings more than 85,000 attendees for a week of film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops. There’s a strong focus on diversity and inclusion in filmmaking, which is a big draw for many.
Who knew that in the middle of the Ozarks, you can find amazing art, films, and culture strong enough to rival major metro areas? That’s the heart of NWA.
Affordability without compromising life quality
Living in a high-quality area doesn’t have to mean paying high rent. While other Southern markets like Nashville and Austin have priced out their tech talent, NWA remains affordable. Although housing prices have increased, they’re still low compared to big cities. For example, Benton County’s average home price reached $430,000 in early 2024 but in Austin, the median home price was $560,000. Many see NWA as the “sweet spot” between affordability and quality, thanks to the spacious homes, access to trails, and minimal commutes. In other words, you’ll pay more than you would have five years ago but you’ll still be paying less and getting more value.
In addition to homes, rentals are affordable in NWA. For instance, there’s an $8 million income-based housing project in Bella Vista designed for households earning less than half the regional median income. This makes it even easier for newcomers to settle in while they’re still building their tech skills. By balancing high-end living with affordable apartments, NWA is attractive to a wide range of remote workers.
A business environment
Although NWA is no Wall Street or Silicon Valley, it has a similar corporate feel without the overcrowding you get with larger metros. Anchored by Fortune 500 giants, NWA provides a business environment that keeps motivation and inspiration high.
One reason there are so many remote workers in NWA is the fact that in May 2024, Walmart required remote corporate staff across the U.S. and Canada to move to key hubs, including Bentonville. The presence of Walmart’s hub attracts suppliers, consultants, and entrepreneurs who are eager to plug into its supply chain. For instance, more than 1,400 suppliers have offices in Northwest Arkansas, including Bentonville and Rogers. Now these locations are hubs for business meetings and networking events, but unlike New York and Los Angeles, you don’t need a driver to take your client to lunch. It’s just a 15-minute drive down beautiful tree-lined streets.
True quality of life
Many Southern markets promise “quality of life” and can’t deliver, but NWA has the infrastructure to support this promise. Communities are intentionally built to thrive as the population increases, maintaining their convenience and charm. The “Life Works Here” initiative led by the Northwest Arkansas Council became a national case study in effective talent branding. This initiative emphasized how residents can work for global companies by day and hike beautiful Ozark trails by evening. For remote workers seeking more than a paycheck, this type of marketing resonates hard.
As part of a larger regional investment in making remote work sustainable rather than isolating, coworking spaces in NWA are a priority. They offer flexible spaces, coffee shop energy, and plenty of networking opportunities.
NWA is a smart move
Remote workers are choosing Northwest Arkansas for the dynamic tech ecosystem, diverse culture, quality of life, and access to nature. For remote workers considering moving to NWA, you won’t find a better place to settle in the South. If you’re ready to upgrade your office view to a beautiful Ozark skyline, come check out Northwest Arkansas. Your future self will thank you.
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