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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Arkansas, 2026

Magnolia is the most affordable ranked town in Arkansas. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

71
Towns ranked in Arkansas.
Magnolia
Number 1 in Arkansas. Rent is 13.5% of income. National rank 24.
19.8%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Arkansas.
9
Ranked Arkansas towns in the national top 100.
Monticello
Least affordable ranked town in Arkansas. Rent is 31.1% of income. National rank 1933.

Gasoline

$3.954

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Arkansas price. This is the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $1,897.92 a year for every ranked town in Arkansas.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Arkansas." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/arkansas

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Benefits and taxes in Arkansas

Top 25

  1. #1 in Arkansas · National #24

    Magnolia

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.157

    Median rent is $633 a month and median income is $56,127, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  2. #2 in Arkansas · National #43

    Greenwood

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 85.9 · Score 0.167

    Median rent is $836 a month and median income is $66,844, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro price level is 85.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in Arkansas · National #47

    Maumelle

    Rent share 12.2% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.168

    Median rent is $1,047 a month and median income is $103,333, so rent is 12.2% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #4 in Arkansas · National #54

    White Hall

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.171

    Median rent is $985 a month and median income is $78,092, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  5. #5 in Arkansas · National #72

    Bryant

    Rent share 14.4% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.178

    Median rent is $993 a month and median income is $83,024, so rent is 14.4% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  6. #6 in Arkansas · National #76

    Mena

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.179

    Median rent is $639 a month and median income is $47,428, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #7 in Arkansas · National #79

    East End

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.180

    Median rent is $1,071 a month and median income is $87,936, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  8. #8 in Arkansas · National #80

    Beebe

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.181

    Median rent is $799 a month and median income is $59,476, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  9. #9 in Arkansas · National #90

    Sheridan

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.184

    Median rent is $780 a month and median income is $62,453, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  10. #10 in Arkansas · National #102

    Van Buren

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 85.9 · Score 0.188

    Median rent is $847 a month and median income is $61,149, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro price level is 85.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in Arkansas · National #110

    Lowell

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.191

    Median rent is $1,136 a month and median income is $95,527, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  12. #12 in Arkansas · National #130

    Bentonville

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.196

    Median rent is $1,344 a month and median income is $112,792, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  13. #13 in Arkansas · National #134

    De Queen

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.198

    Median rent is $757 a month and median income is $52,522, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  14. #14 in Arkansas · National #137

    Sherwood

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.198

    Median rent is $1,101 a month and median income is $81,328, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  15. #15 in Arkansas · National #148

    Centerton

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.200

    Median rent is $1,465 a month and median income is $115,713, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Arkansas · National #173

    Trumann

    Rent share 18.1% · Price level 85.9 · Score 0.207

    Median rent is $586 a month and median income is $38,881, so rent is 18.1% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Jonesboro, AR metro price level is 85.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  17. #17 in Arkansas · National #189

    Alma

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 85.9 · Score 0.210

    Median rent is $1,012 a month and median income is $68,562, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro price level is 85.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  18. #18 in Arkansas · National #214

    Morrilton

    Rent share 18.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.215

    Median rent is $717 a month and median income is $47,572, so rent is 18.1% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  19. #19 in Arkansas · National #224

    Prairie Grove

    Rent share 16.4% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.217

    Median rent is $968 a month and median income is $70,701, so rent is 16.4% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  20. #20 in Arkansas · National #229

    Siloam Springs

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.218

    Median rent is $1,003 a month and median income is $72,065, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  21. #21 in Arkansas · National #245

    Camden

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.222

    Median rent is $768 a month and median income is $49,361, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  22. #22 in Arkansas · National #253

    Benton

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.223

    Median rent is $1,072 a month and median income is $72,876, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  23. #23 in Arkansas · National #258

    Cabot

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.225

    Median rent is $1,110 a month and median income is $75,000, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  24. #24 in Arkansas · National #323

    Farmington

    Rent share 17.5% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.236

    Median rent is $1,321 a month and median income is $90,469, so rent is 17.5% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  25. #25 in Arkansas · National #332

    Rogers

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.237

    Median rent is $1,270 a month and median income is $86,728, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

Least affordable 10

  1. #71 in Arkansas · National #1933

    Monticello

    Rent share 31.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.365

    Median rent is $707 a month and median income is $27,238, so rent is 31.1% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #70 in Arkansas · National #1723

    Cherokee Village

    Rent share 30.6% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.352

    Median rent is $951 a month and median income is $37,326, so rent is 30.6% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #69 in Arkansas · National #1670

    West Memphis

    Rent share 24.5% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.348

    Median rent is $870 a month and median income is $42,674, so rent is 24.5% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #68 in Arkansas · National #1630

    Greenbrier

    Rent share 25.0% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.344

    Median rent is $1,192 a month and median income is $57,214, so rent is 25.0% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #67 in Arkansas · National #1495

    Forrest City

    Rent share 27.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.337

    Median rent is $805 a month and median income is $35,689, so rent is 27.1% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #66 in Arkansas · National #1467

    North Little Rock

    Rent share 24.3% · Price level 89.4 · Score 0.335

    Median rent is $1,069 a month and median income is $52,707, so rent is 24.3% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro price level is 89.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #65 in Arkansas · National #1427

    Hope

    Rent share 26.3% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.332

    Median rent is $823 a month and median income is $37,500, so rent is 26.3% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #64 in Arkansas · National #1425

    Mountain Home

    Rent share 25.1% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.331

    Median rent is $865 a month and median income is $41,274, so rent is 25.1% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #63 in Arkansas · National #1367

    Pea Ridge

    Rent share 22.8% · Price level 91.4 · Score 0.328

    Median rent is $1,818 a month and median income is $95,521, so rent is 22.8% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro price level is 91.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #62 in Arkansas · National #1347

    Berryville

    Rent share 24.8% · Price level 86.9 · Score 0.326

    Median rent is $875 a month and median income is $42,283, so rent is 24.8% of income, over the 19.8% median for ranked towns in Arkansas. The Arkansas state price level is 86.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.33 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Arkansas in this index?

Magnolia is number 1 of 71 ranked towns in Arkansas. Median rent is 13.5% of median income. Its national rank is 24.

How many towns in Arkansas were ranked?

71 towns in Arkansas have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Arkansas?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.