Benton County vs Sebastian County
Benton County, Arkansas versus Sebastian County, Arkansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Benton County edges out Sebastian County on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Benton County | Sebastian County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $85k | $54k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $42k |
| Home Value | $254k | $155k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $805 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.63% | 0.68% |
| Income Tax | 4.40% | 4.42% |
| Sales Tax | 9.45% | 9.45% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.40% | 9.50% |
| Unemployment | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 37°F | 40°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 83°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7 in | 48.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.1 in | 2.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 257 days | 255 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 70°F |
| Comfortable Days | 69 days | 72 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 88.7 | 86.8 |
| School Quality | 37.4 | 47.6 |
| Violent Crime | 945/100k | 2626/100k |
| Property Crime | 1221/100k | 3744/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 286,528 | 128,184 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 38.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.48 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.01 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | R+27 | R+37 |
| White (%) | 64.6% | 67.7% |
| Black (%) | 1.8% | 5.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 17.4% | 15.1% |
| Asian (%) | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 12.1% | 6.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 6.5/20 | 7.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 93 mi | 116 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.1% | 82.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 6.84 | 1.79 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Benton County or Sebastian County more affordable?
- Sebastian County has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Benton County's $49k and Sebastian County's $42k. Median rent is $1k in Benton County versus $805 in Sebastian County.
- Is Benton County or Sebastian County safer?
- Benton County has the lower violent crime rate. Benton County reports 945/100k and Sebastian County reports 2626/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Benton County or Sebastian County?
- The median home value is $254k in Benton County and $155k in Sebastian County, so homes are more affordable in Sebastian County.