Arkansas
Among the top 12% of US states for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade A, better than 88% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 41% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 10% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade D, better than 20% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 22% of US states
- top 4% for monthly rent
- top 8% for cost of living
- bottom 4% for sales tax
Arkansas is a U.S. state with about 3,019,000 residents. It grades A for affordability and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include monthly rent, cost of living, and monthly owner costs. It rates lower on sales tax and violent crime.
Official websitearkansas.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Arkansas is $166k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Arkansas is $57k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Arkansas is $856 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Arkansas has a violent crime rate of 2049/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Arkansas is 22 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$57k6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 92% of US states
Home Value$166k6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$856better than 96% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$34kbetter than 84% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.60%better than 75% of US states
Income Tax4.37%better than 74% of US states
Sales Tax9.45%better than 4% of US states
Estimated total tax burden9.23%better than 78% of US states
Unemployment5.2%better than 49% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)40°F73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation51.7 in86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall3.7 inbetter than 78% of US states
Sunny Days236 daysbetter than 61% of US states
Summer Humidity70°Fbetter than 10% of US states
Comfortable Days75 daysbetter than 30% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk76.4better than 67% of US states
Air Quality49 AQIbetter than 30% of US states
School Quality43.6better than 20% of US states
Violent Crime2049/100kbetter than 4% of US states
Property Crime2442/100kbetter than 12% of US states
Community
Population3,018,66935th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.845th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3945th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9841st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2890th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)69.7%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)15.1%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.1%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.5%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.6%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time22 minbetter than 80% of US states
Walkability6.7/20better than 8% of US states
Airport Distance124 mibetter than 18% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.4%better than 6% of US states
Amenities Nearby3.25better than 41% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 53% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Arkansas an affordable place to live?
- Arkansas is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 92% of comparable areas. Median rent is $856.
- Is Arkansas safe?
- Arkansas is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2049/100k (better than 4%). Property crime is 2442/100k.
- What is the weather like in Arkansas?
- Arkansas averages 81°F in July and 40°F in January, with 51.7 in of annual precipitation and about 236 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Arkansas?
- Public-school quality in Arkansas is below average, scoring better than 20% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Arkansas?
- The average one-way commute in Arkansas is 22 min.