Pulaski County vs Washington County
Pulaski County, Arkansas versus Washington County, Arkansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Washington County edges out Pulaski County on overall objective livability (45 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Pulaski County | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $58k | $62k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $44k |
| Home Value | $188k | $236k |
| Monthly Rent | $985 | $935 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.81% | 0.59% |
| Income Tax | 4.40% | 4.40% |
| Sales Tax | 9.45% | 9.45% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.12% | 9.78% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 4.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 41°F | 37°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 82°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3 in | 47.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9 in | 6.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 212 days | 257 days |
| Summer Humidity | 71°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 68 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 96.8 | 92.3 |
| Air Quality | 55 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.4 | 45.0 |
| Violent Crime | 4017/100k | 1593/100k |
| Property Crime | 4526/100k | 2768/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 398,322 | 247,331 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 32.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.58 | 0.48 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.92 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | D+23 | Even |
| White (%) | 50.4% | 65.5% |
| Black (%) | 37.2% | 3.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.4% | 17.3% |
| Asian (%) | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.8% | 11.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 9.8/20 | 7.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 138 mi | 94 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.6% | 86.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 5.05 | 1.70 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
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 Pulaski County or Washington County more affordable?
- Washington County has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Pulaski County's $46k and Washington County's $44k. Median rent is $985 in Pulaski County versus $935 in Washington County.
- Is Pulaski County or Washington County safer?
- Washington County has the lower violent crime rate. Pulaski County reports 4017/100k and Washington County reports 1593/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Pulaski County or Washington County?
- The median home value is $188k in Pulaski County and $236k in Washington County, so homes are more affordable in Pulaski County.