Ward is a growing Arkansas community that retains its small-town feel
The conveniently located Ward community has enjoyed growth as a result of its proximity to the region’s population and economic centers, including neighboring Cabot and the state capital of Little Rock. The city’s population has increased more than 20 percent since 2020, now standing at 7,000. Residents enjoy their fair share of amenities within the community, including a top-rated elementary school, a popular sports complex and several churches. “If you’re looking for a quiet, secluded area, it’s perfect,” says Laura Casteel of MVP Real Estate, who has sold several homes in Ward.
New homes being built as neighboring Cabot continues to grow
Prices here range from under $100,000 to more than $500,000. The majority of residential listings are new construction. “It’s overflow from Cabot,” Casteel says. “Cabot has started to grow outward, and the land is a lot cheaper in Ward.” Most recently built homes have contemporary designs with driveways and attached garages; often they’re built with brick exteriors, which are more resistant to temperature fluctuations throughout the year. This is especially important during the region’s hot, humid summers. Older ranch-style designs on spacious lots are common on the north side. Several of these non-HOA developments are spread throughout the community.
Community elementary school is part of top-rated Cabot district
The city is served by the Cabot School District, which earns an A-minus from Niche. That’s the same grade Niche gives all four of the schools that students here typically attend. The first school in the pipeline, Ward Central Elementary, is located in the center of the community.
Organized sports and popular events bring residents together
Despite rapid growth, the community retains its traditional charm. It’s the kind of place where residents gather for organized sports at the Ward Sports Complex, with its ballfields and walking paths. The park hosts the community’s signature event, a Fourth of July celebration that features food trucks, vendors and carnival rides. Other popular community events include Harvest Fest and the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting ceremony. Nearby Busby Lake has hosted an annual kids fishing derby for more than 20 years. “It’s a rural area with a small-town, family feel,” Casteel says. The Arkansas River, which runs through downtown Little Rock, is a haven for boaters and is known for its fishing opportunities.
Plenty of shopping and dining options minutes away in Cabot
A handful of businesses are scattered throughout the community. “There’s a Mexican restaurant called Coco’s, and it is phenomenal,” Casteel says. Cabot offers plenty of shopping and dining. Big-box retailers, including Walmart, and a variety of restaurants are concentrated around the Main Street corridor about 7 miles away. Little Rock’s River Market district is a regional destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Most working residents commute to jobs in, around Little Rock
The city estimates that about 90 percent of its working residents commute to work, with about 50 percent employed in Pulaski County. Little Rock is the largest city in the county – and the state. Interstate 57, which borders Ward, connects directly to Little Rock, about 30 miles away. The state capital is the center of government employment as well as the center of Arkansas’ medical industry. There are multiple large medical centers there. Closer to home, Cabot Emergency Hospital opened in 2019. Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, one of the state’s top employers, is only 15 miles away. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is in Little Rock.
Written By
Matt Pallister
