Any help appreciated in suggestions for a place to 23 year old. Going to do CSI work for the state. Anything we need to know? She got a job offer.

Thanks in advance

I know a lot about other parts of the state. You definitely need a local. I know as much to know there are clear division lines of where and where NOT to go. Best of luck to her!

Within Little Rock proper, I can't offer much help other than NOPE.

I would highly suggest, if she can do a commute, look at CABOT in Lonoke County. Apartment? There are two NEW very nice looking complexes in Cabot. House renting, plenty of places. Buying, again plenty of opportunity.

Cabot is really coming into the 21st century and cost of living remains decent. Lots of new places to eat,heck, we're even getting a Chic Fil A here.

Lonoke county is a dry county. Cabot is located along Hwy 67/167 with easy access to I-40 and I-30.

Towns to probably not consider...Jacksonville in Pulaski county, Sherwood (depending on the area), North Little Rock (again, depending on the area)

Where ever she decides to go, make sure she never runs from the Arkansas State Police.

I've heard from a lot of people that Little Rock has a lot of crime .

I'm not a Little Rock expert (I live ~3 hours away), but my understanding is that Little Rock itself is mostly rough, as are the directly surrounding areas like North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville, but there are some decent surrounding commutable areas a little further out, like Maumelle, Cabot, Conway, Benton, etc. (Though Little Rock rush hour commute traffic is reportedly horrendous.)

Is she working at the State Crime Lab? If it's an option at some point in the future, I'd recommend she look into a transfer to the newer Regional Crime Lab they recently opened up here in NWA in a city called Lowell. The facility is nicer, and the metroplex area overall is nicer, lower crime, and more vibrant, plus cost of living is a bit cheaper up here (for the time being). But it's also smaller, so jobs might be more scarce/competitive than the main LR campus.

They offered her the ballistic position working with firearms and atf and some data base. She explained it like a data base of dna on bullet guns and cases?

I will ask her rouge. She carry’s a Glock but avoiding trouble first is best.

That sounds like the Firearm and Toolmark Section at the State Crime Lab, and the NIBIN database.

I don't believe that unit has a presence in Lowell yet. I believe they're focusing on just drugs and toxicology at the moment. But there may be a future opportunity as the new NWA crime lab expands.

Yes NIBIN!!! Could not remember that.

I lived in Sherwood when I was stationed there. It has been a little over ten years since I left but it was fine while I was there, maybe things have changed since then? A lot of folks with kids liked Cabot, the school there had a good reputation. I agree with the folks who said to avoid Jacksonville and North Little Rock.

Like Rouge said, the rush hour commute can be horrible if she chooses poorly.

My 23 year old daughter just moved there for a lucrative job in computer software. We live in NE Arkansas, and I'm very familiar with Little Rock, as I'm there often, and my older brother just retired from an LE position in Little Rock.

Little Rock, as cities go, is a fine town. She could do much, much worse. My brother said that many people who've moved there from out of state often choose to stay there for the duration of their careers. I love Little Rock, but as with all cities these days, it is changing, and not for the better.

I couldn't agree more with Johnny 3eagles; NOPE to Little Rock proper, but if she must live in LR, make sure it's West Little Rock, but again, I can't recommend it.

Top of the list are Cabot, north of LR, and Bryant or Benton, both just south of LR in Saline County. These are wonderful places, growing, safe, well policed, and with relatively low crime rates. Cost of living is much lower, and the commutes, though often very hectic, are nothing compared to the drives in larger cities. It's all a matter of timing the commutes and using alternate routes, if possible.

The Arkansas State Police presence in LR is exceptional, and LRPD has had a facelift and are moving back toward a pro-enforcement model after the departure of a recent chief.

My 23 year old daughter lives in West Little Rock, which is pretty upscale; however, she lives in an apartment complex, surrounded by the usual suspects with the usual issues. If you would like to email me, please feel free to do so and I'll provide you with more specifics of what we're dealing with. Again, Cabot, Bryant or Benton are far better location choices for her than Little Rock proper.

Grew up in Conway, which is nice, but 30 miles away. I'd second the vote for Maumelle. Easy commute to LR.