8 Safest Towns In The Ozarks For Senior Living
Choosing where to spend your senior years means weighing safety, care, affordability, and community. These eight small towns across the Ozarks deliver on all four. Bolivar stands out for its excellent health care. Hollister offers a cost-of-living index well below the national average. Seniors make up close to a third of Mountain Home's population. Here is a closer look at what makes each one a good fit for senior living.
Bolivar, MO
Sitting in the heart of the Ozarks, just 30 minutes from Springfield, Bolivar, Missouri, is a small, senior-friendly town with a suburban feel and access to big-city amenities. Bolivar has a population of about 11,170. Affordability is a major draw, with the cost of living well below the national average and a median home value of around $200,000. Excellent healthcare is another major enticement. Citizens Memorial Hospital is in town and recently expanded its capabilities. CMH also provides many healthcare specialty services. Bolivar is relatively safe, with a low violent crime rate.
A walkable downtown square centered around the historic Polk County Courthouse offers residents a variety of shops selling jewelry, antiques, and more. There are also a variety of dining options in the square. The Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art houses an art collection, and the Polk County Museum is located in the historic North Ward School. For outdoor activities, visit the Frisco Highline Trail, or head just north of Bolivar to Stockton and Pomme de Terre lakes, which offer fishing, sailing, and other water activities. Polk County Senior Center provides $4 weekday lunches, activities, programs, and health fairs. Silo Ridge or the Bolivar Golf Club are in town, as is Aqua Zone at the Bolivar Recreation Center.
Hollister, MO
Relaxed and quiet, with natural beauty and outdoor adventures, that describes Hollister. Located in Taney County, Missouri, it has a population of 4,583. Table Rock Lake is a premier recreation area with pristine waters and beautiful views of the Ozark Mountains. Visitors enjoy swimming, boating, water sports, fishing, hiking, and camping. The Dewey Short Visitors Center features exhibits, power generation demonstrations, and a scenic overlook of the lake and dam. The College of the Ozarks offers seniors community education programs and access to the Ralph Foster Museum and Dobson Dining Room. Nearby Branson offers access to entertainment, shopping, and medical facilities, providing small-town living with big-city amenities.
Hollister is an affordable town with a cost-of-living index well below the US average and a median home value of around $180,000. Downtown Hollister is anchored by the Downing Street Historic District, with its Tudor-style buildings, built to resemble an English Village. Walkable and quiet, the area offers local boutiques, antique shops, and dining options. Violent crime in Hollister is low, with the city's south side considered the safest. Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Hollister provides a range of services to residents, and Cox Medical Center Branson is just a few minutes away. The Branson-Hollister Senior Center is minutes from historic downtown Branson and offers many activities for seniors, plus a hot lunch and a fresh salad every weekday.
Ozark, MO
The town of Ozark, home to 22,417 residents, sits on the Finley River, between nearby Springfield and Branson. A well-known antiquing destination in southwest Missouri, the Historic Courtyard Square is the gateway to the nearby Antiques District. The highly walkable Square features historic buildings with colorful awnings and paint, pocket parks with benches, boutiques, and local eateries. Summer, on the second Friday of each month, brings Sunset on the Square, a concert series with live music and food trucks, and Market Days, a farmer and artisan market, is often held there.
Located blocks from the square on the banks of the Finley River are Finley Farms and the Ozark Mill, a historic and culinary destination. You will find a fine dining restaurant, coffee shops, an urban farm, tours of Ozark Mill, workshops, and events. The Ozark Senior Center offers daily meals, exercise classes, social events, and transportation to medical appointments, while the Ozark Community Center provides programs specifically designed for older adults. The median home value in Ozark is around $255,000, and its violent crime rate is low. Routine care is available at local clinics, while major medical centers in Springfield are a 15-minute drive away.
Bella Vista, AR
Bella Vista, Arkansas, is an active senior's dream location. Located in the Ozark Mountains on the Springfield Plateau, Bella Vista was once a resort town that evolved into a residential community of 31,697 residents with a unique structure. The city provides police and fire protection, as well as other city services, while the Property Owners Association (POA) manages the amenities, including 8 golf courses, 7 lakes, one indoor and two outdoor pools, a gun range, recreation centers, and more. There are small areas in Bella Vista that are not included in the POA, but most properties are. So, if you buy a home, you automatically become a POA member, pay a small monthly fee, and gain access to all the amenities.
The combination of golf, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking trails, and fitness centers gives active seniors, 32.2% of the population, a lot to do without leaving the community. Housing is affordable, and the violent crime rate is low. The 2.2-mile loop at Tanyard Creek Nature Trail is a pleasant walk that features a waterfall and a creek. Learn the area's amazing history at the Bella Vista Historical Museum, visit the Veterans' Wall of Honor, and see the striking architecture of the Cooper Memorial Chapel. While shops and restaurants are spread throughout the community, Bentonville, just 12 minutes away, has a lovely, walkable downtown. Northwest Medical Center is also in Bentonville, while the Mercy Emergency Room Department is in Bella Vista.
Berryville, AR
The beautiful Kings River is a mile outside Berryville, a town of 5,707 residents and growing. The river is great for canoeing and kayaking, with deep pools for fantastic fishing. Explore Kings River Preserve, which spans 5,000 acres near Berryville and features the 1-mile Kings River Overlook Trail. Visiting the nearby Cosmic Cavern is an unforgettable experience. It is a cool 64 degrees year-round, with two bottomless lakes and natural formations, and the Wild Cave Tour takes you through hidden passages. Memory Lane Museum is a must-see for seniors, bringing you back in time with items from the 1940s through the 1960s. Eureka Springs, with its art and culture, is just 12 miles away.
Downtown Berryville is an old-fashioned town square, filled with shops, boutiques, and restaurants. While there, visit the Carroll County Heritage Museum, housed in the 1880 courthouse, to explore local history, and stop at the Saunders Museum to view its collection of historic frontier guns. The Community Center has something for everyone, including a heated indoor pool and fitness center. Berryville's median home value is low, around $165,000; however, its violent crime rate is higher than several other towns on this list. Mercy Hospital, a 24-hour Critical Access hospital, serves Berryville and offers a Senior Life Solutions program. Also available to seniors is the Carroll County Senior Activity and Wellness Center.
Eureka Springs, AR
Located in the Ozark Mountains, near the Missouri border, Eureka Springs, an eclectic town of 2,433 residents, is known for its inclusivity and welcoming atmosphere, where you are free to be you. Eureka Springs has a large and visible LGBTQ community, and 32.4% of residents are 65 or older. This town offers a mix of outdoor adventure, historic healing springs, and creative spirit. Eureka Springs' downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Winding streets and Victorian architecture are prominent throughout the blocks lined with boutiques, spas, art galleries, and craft emporiums. You will also find a walkable and vibrant dining scene with over 20 restaurants, cafes, and pubs, and city-owned, open-air trams operate throughout the city.
The seven-story Christ of the Ozarks Statue, sixty-seven feet high, overlooks Eureka Springs and is a popular attraction, and The Great Passion Play has drawn over 8 million people since it opened in 1968. Three operas are presented in the summer, and the hauntingly unique Melonlight Theater presents plays that deliver an immersive experience. Lakes Leatherwood and Black Bass offer fishing, hiking, paddling, and trails, or launch a boat at Beaver Lake and enjoy a day of watersports. Ziplining is another outdoor activity, and seeing exotic cats in a natural habitat at the wildlife center. The median home value in Eureka Springs is around $245,000, and its violent crime rate is low. Eureka Springs Hospital serves the town.
Harrison, AR
The county seat of Boone County, Arkansas, Harrison, a town of 13,350 residents, is considered the "Gateway City" to the Buffalo National River, a popular destination for camping, hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Located just south of town, the river runs through remote Ozark wilderness. A large elk herd roams along the river, and you can canoe past huge limestone bluffs and fish the clear water for smallmouth bass. The new Creekside Community Center has an 8-lane competition pool and a lap-swim pool for refreshing swims. The center, with discounted senior rates, also has 3 full-size multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, or pickleball, a golf simulator, a driving net, a game room, and an eSports room with plenty of gaming consoles.
Harrison is a top destination for youth sports tournaments at local, state, and regional levels, including aquatics, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and more. The historic downtown district offers a walking tour featuring the Lyric Theater, the 1909 Boone County Jail, and the 1929 Hotel Seville. Visit shops, galleries, restaurants, and antique stores in old brick storefronts, and the Boone County Heritage Museum. Harrison is affordable, with a median home value of around $170,000. Its violent crime rate is moderate. North Arkansas Regional Medical Center provides health care, and Boone County Senior Activity & Wellness Center offers activities, $3 hot lunches, and more. Harrison hosts the Hot Air Balloon Championships and Crawdad Days Musical Festival.
Mountain Home, AR
Mountain Home, Arkansas, home to about 13,108 residents, with roughly 30% being seniors, is frequently ranked among the country's best places to retire. Sitting between two of the region's largest lakes in the southern Ozark Mountains, Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes are the centerpieces of life in Mountain Home. Outdoor activities include boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, and scuba diving. The North Fork River produced a former world-record brown trout. Camping, hiking, mountain biking trails, and golf are favorite pastimes. The Big Creek Golf and Country Club is a longtime local favorite.
Downtown Mountain Home is historic, walkable, and a great place for socializing. Restaurants, pubs, shops, and galleries line the streets, and a unique open-container experience allows strolling along with a branded drink. The violent crime rate is higher than some other towns on this list, though it varies by neighborhood. Housing is very affordable, with a median home value of around $170,000. Baxter Regional Medical Center serves the town, as does the Mruk Family Center on Aging. Seniors love Van Matre Senior Activity and Wellness Center, which provides socializing, exercise, activities, and $5 lunches on weekdays.
Choosing Your Ozark Town
Whether you're drawn to the walkable streets of a small downtown, the peace of a quiet lakeside afternoon, or the reassurance of nearby quality health care, these eight Ozark towns offer a retirement that's both active and safe. Bella Vista, AR, even has its own large retirement community. From canoeing the Kings River in Berryville to exploring the nearby Cosmic Cavern, there's no shortage of ways to stay active and engaged. Wherever you look on this list, you'll find a community built for the next chapter of life.
