Arkansas Rent Affordability
Median rent $942/mo. 30% rule needs $37,680/yr income. Rent = 19% of Arkansas median household income.
Max affordable rent by income
| Gross income | Max rent (30%) | Max rent (25% conservative) | vs Arkansas median |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750/mo | $625/mo | 80% of median |
| $40,000 | $1000/mo | $833/mo | 1.06× median |
| $50,000 | $1250/mo | $1042/mo | 1.33× median |
| $60,000 | $1500/mo | $1250/mo | 1.59× median |
| $75,000 | $1875/mo | $1563/mo | 1.99× median |
| $100,000 | $2500/mo | $2083/mo | 2.65× median |
| $125,000 | $3125/mo | $2604/mo | 3.32× median |
| $150,000 | $3750/mo | $3125/mo | 3.98× median |
| $200,000 | $5000/mo | $4167/mo | 5.31× median |
Rent vs buy break-even in Arkansas
The annual rent-to-home-price ratio of 6.3% is above 5%, often favoring buying over renting in Arkansas. Rent is high enough that mortgage payments on the median home may be comparable. Run a full break-even with current rates, property tax, and HOA.
Price-to-rent ratio is a heuristic. Full break-even depends on mortgage rate, property tax, maintenance, HOA, transaction costs, and the buyer's expected hold period.
Rent in neighboring states
How Arkansas rent compares to contiguous neighbors. Relocation, remote-work geography, or commute-belt decisions.
| State | Median rent | % of state HH median | Median home | vs AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (current) | $942 | 19% | $178,100 | — |
| Mississippi | $980 | 21% | $158,400 | +$38 |
| Oklahoma | $1,004 | 19% | $184,800 | +$62 |
| Missouri | $1,063 | 19% | $217,600 | +$121 |
| Louisiana | $1,078 | 21% | $207,500 | +$136 |
| Tennessee | $1,230 | 22% | $264,800 | +$288 |
| Texas | $1,438 | 23% | $280,200 | +$496 |
Other states
Common questions
- What is the median rent in Arkansas?
- Arkansas statewide median gross monthly rent is $942 (Census ACS 2023 B25064). Metro areas typically run 20-50% above the state median; rural areas 10-25% below. Numbers reflect all renters and bedroom counts combined.
- How much income do I need to afford the median rent in Arkansas?
- Using the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income), you need about $37,680/year. The 25% conservative rule pushes that to $45,216/year. Arkansas median household income is $58,773 — rent eats 19% of typical earners' income.
- Is renting or buying a better deal in Arkansas?
- Rule of thumb: if annual rent < 5% of home price, renting wins. Arkansas ratio: annual rent $11,304 / median home $178,100 = 6.3%. Buying may be favored (rents are high relative to home prices). Full break-even depends on time horizon, mortgage rate, property tax, and HOA.
- Why is rent so much higher in some Arkansas metros than the statewide median?
- State median averages across rural and urban renters. A high-cost metro (LA, NYC, SF, Boston, Seattle, DC) drives metro rent 30-60% above the state number. Use the statewide median for relocation comparison, but expect to pay above-median in any large city.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only — not financial advice. The 30% rule is a guideline, not a rule. State median hides large city-level variation. Calculate take-home pay in Arkansas →
Sources
Last reviewed: · Beforeview Editorial · editorial policy