TL;DR: The best neighborhoods in Gentry AR for commuters center on the town's core residential areas, where the median sale price is $255,000 as of March 2026—$339,900 below Bentonville's $594,900 median—and the mean commute to work is 23.8 minutes per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 data. For logistics and tech workers employed in Bentonville, Springdale, or Lowell, this price gap preserves household income for other priorities while maintaining reasonable travel times.
What Does a 23.8-Minute Commute Mean for Gentry Residents?
The U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year estimates report a mean travel time to work of 23.8 minutes for all Gentry commuters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 minutes. This figure covers the entire employed population of Gentry, Arkansas—4,240 residents total per the same ACS data—regardless of destination or mode of transport. The measure reflects self-reported typical commute duration, not a specific route to Bentonville, Springdale, or Lowell.
For context, Bentonville hosts Walmart's global headquarters, Springdale houses Tyson Foods, and Lowell is home to J.B. Hunt Transport Services. These three employers anchor much of Northwest Arkansas's logistics and technology employment. A 23.8-minute mean commute places Gentry workers in range of these centers without requiring residence in the higher-cost core cities. If you are relocating for a position at any of these employers, this commute duration suggests Gentry functions as a viable bedroom community, though your specific route and time will depend on workplace location within each city.
How Much Can Commuters Save on Housing in Gentry?
The arithmetic is straightforward. Redfin's Gentry housing market data from March 2026 shows a median sale price of $255,000 for single-family homes. Realtor.com data as of August 6, 2026, places Bentonville's median sale price at $594,900. The difference is $339,900. The U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year estimates separately indicate that the median value of owner-occupied homes in Gentry is $186,100, with a margin of error of plus or minus $30,849. This $186,100 figure reflects a five-year self-reported estimate from existing homeowners, while the $255,000 Redfin figure captures recent closed sales—different measures that together suggest appreciation between older ownership and current market entry.
Median household income in Gentry stands at $69,779 per ACS 2024, with a margin of error of plus or minus $14,523. At that income level, a $255,000 purchase price represents approximately 3.65 years of gross household income. In Bentonville, the $594,900 median would consume roughly 8.53 years of the same Gentry income. If you are relocating on a $70,000 household budget, that means Gentry preserves roughly four to five years of income equivalent in housing cost, capital that can fund retirement savings, education, or commute-related vehicle expenses.
Where Should Commuters Look Within Gentry?
Gentry's population of 4,240 supports a compact residential footprint. The town's housing stock concentrates in established single-family neighborhoods, with Redfin identifying single-family housing as the relevant home-type market for the city-level median figure. For commuters, proximity to arterial roads that connect toward the I-49 corridor becomes a practical sorting criterion, though specific street names and route details fall outside verified data.
The median value of owner-occupied homes at $186,100 suggests neighborhoods with longer-tenured residents, while the $255,000 recent sales median indicates newer market activity likely concentrated in turnover areas. If you are relocating with a commute priority, that means focusing your search on whichever Gentry neighborhood offers the best combination of your specific workplace direction and the housing type—established or newer—that matches your financing and renovation preferences.
What Should You Do With These Numbers?
- Obtain pre-approval for a mortgage at or below the $255,000 Gentry median before beginning property searches, so you can act on listings that appear in a thin market of 4,240 residents.
- Request from any prospective employer or current employer the specific workplace address, not just city name, so you can validate whether your commute falls near the 23.8-minute mean or extends beyond it.
- Compare the $255,000 Redfin sales median against your target neighborhood's asking prices in real time, recognizing that the $186,100 ACS owner-occupied median reflects older, self-reported values that may undervalue current market conditions.
- Calculate total cost of ownership including vehicle expenses for the commute, since the $339,900 housing savings against Bentonville can absorb substantial transportation costs and still leave margin.
- Contact Mason Capital Group at 479-925-3333 to request a side-by-side cost comparison for Gentry neighborhoods against Bentonville alternatives, incorporating your specific workplace location and household income into the analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gentry too far from Bentonville for a daily commute?
The 23.8-minute mean travel time to work for all Gentry commuters, per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year estimates, suggests many residents already complete manageable daily commutes. This figure covers all employed Gentry residents regardless of destination, so your specific Bentonville commute may align with or exceed this mean depending on workplace location within the city.
Why is Gentry housing so much cheaper than Bentonville?
Gentry's median sale price of $255,000 per March 2026 Redfin data compares to Bentonville's $594,900 per August 6, 2026 Realtor.com data. The $339,900 gap reflects differences in employment density, employer concentration, and amenities rather than housing quality alone. Bentonville's proximity to Walmart's global headquarters and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art drives demand that Gentry, with 4,240 residents, does not replicate.
Are Gentry home values stable given the price difference?
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Gentry is $186,100 per ACS 2024 5-year estimates, while recent median sales reached $255,000 per Redfin March 2026 data. These different measures—self-reported five-year estimates versus actual closed sales—suggest appreciation rather than decline, though the exact trajectory depends on continued demand from Northwest Arkansas commuters.
What income do I need to buy in Gentry?
Median household income in Gentry is $69,779 per ACS 2024, with a margin of error of plus or minus $14,523. At that income, the $255,000 median sale price equals approximately 3.65 times gross annual income, a ratio that falls within conventional mortgage underwriting guidelines for many lenders. Your specific qualification will depend on debt load, credit profile, and down payment size.
Does Gentry have neighborhoods suited to tech workers specifically?
Gentry's housing market consists primarily of single-family homes per Redfin's city-level characterization. Tech workers employed at Walmart in Bentonville or J.B. Hunt in Lowell will find the same housing stock as other commuters. The relevant sorting criterion is commute direction and duration relative to your specific workplace, not neighborhood specialization by industry.
Mason Capital Group, with 30+ years of Northwest Arkansas expertise and $2.4 billion in transactions, will provide a neighborhood-specific cost comparison for Gentry against Bentonville and other corridor alternatives, tailored to your employer location and household budget. Call 479-925-3333 or visit 609 SW 8th Street, 6th Floor, Bentonville, AR 72712 to schedule that analysis.
Figures in this article are drawn from Redfin — Gentry, AR Housing Market (as of March 2026), Realtor.com (as of August 6, 2026), and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey via Census Reporter (as of ACS 2024 5-year estimates).