Arkansas boasts stunning natural beauty, from the Ozark Mountains to the Hot Springs National Park, making it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. With its charming small towns and vibrant city centers, Arkansas offers plenty of reasons to consider it as your new home. If you’re looking to move to Arkansas, or simply considering a relocation, you likely have a budget in mind when searching for a place to live. The median home sale price in Arkansas is $263,800.
If that price doesn’t align with your budget, don’t worry – we’ve curated a list of 7 of the most affordable places to live in Arkansas, all with a median home sale price below $263,800. From Little Rock to Jonesboro, let’s explore the cities on the list.
#1: Pine Bluff
Median home price: $100,000
Average sale price per square foot: $62
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $637
Median household income: $39,411
Nearest major metro: Little Rock (45 miles)
Pine Bluff, AR homes for sale
Pine Bluff, AR apartments for rent
Claiming the top spot on our list is Pine Bluff, a charming city with a population of around 39,100. The median home sale price is an affordable $100,000, significantly below the state average. Pine Bluff offers attractions like the Arkansas Railroad Museum and the AGFC Delta Rivers Nature Center for outdoor enthusiasts.
#2: Hot Springs
Median home price: $165,750
Average sale price per square foot: $132
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $870
Median household income: $46,537
Nearest major metro: Little Rock (55 miles)
Hot Springs, AR homes for sale
Hot Springs, AR apartments for rent
Hot Springs, home to approximately 37,900 residents, offers a median home price of $165,750. This city nestled in the Ouachita Mountains is a hub for outdoor activities and attractions like the iconic Hot Springs National Park. Visitors can explore the West Mountain Trail and the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum.
#3: North Little Rock
Median home price: $185,000
Average sale price per square foot: $129
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $627
Median household income: $45,590
Nearest major metro: Little Rock (3 miles)
North Little Rock, AR homes for sale
North Little Rock, AR apartments for rent
North Little Rock, with a median home price of $185,000, is a vibrant city with a population of 64,600. Located just 3 miles north of Little Rock, residents can enjoy outdoor activities at Burns Park and Emerald Park, explore the Park Hill Historic District, and visit attractions like The Old Mill and the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
#4: Fort Smith
Median home price: $220,000
Average sale price per square foot: $132
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $675
Median household income: $48,033
Nearest major metro: Tulsa, OK (120 miles)
Fort Smith, AR homes for sale
Fort Smith, AR apartments for rent
Fort Smith, with a median home price of $220,000, is a city of 89,200 residents offering attractions like Ben Geren Regional Park, Fort Smith National Historic Site, and the Clayton House. Residents can enjoy outdoor activities at parks like Fort Smith Park and the Ronnie Udouj Walking Trail.
#5: Jonesboro
Median home price: $230,750
Average sale price per square foot: $137
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $840
Median household income: $48,901
Nearest major metro: Memphis, TN (70 miles)
Jonesboro, AR homes for sale
Jonesboro, AR apartments for rent
Jonesboro, home to approximately 78,600 residents, offers a median home price of $230,750. This city provides attractions like the Arkansas State University campus, downtown Jonesboro, and outdoor activities at Craighead Forest Lake.
#6: Little Rock
Median home price: $247,150
Average sale price per square foot: $144
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $830
Median household income: $48,033
Little Rock, AR homes for sale
Little Rock, AR apartments for rent
Little Rock, home to 202,600 residents, offers a median home price of $247,150. The city features attractions like the Little Rock Zoo, riverfront parks, and a range of museums including the Historic Arkansas Museum and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
#7: Benton
Median home price: $253,616
Average sale price per square foot: $142
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $730
Median household income: $66,868
Nearest major metro: Little Rock (25 miles)
Benton, AR homes for sale
Benton, AR apartments for rent
Rounding out our list is Benton, a city of about 37,500 residents located southwest of Little Rock. With a median home price of $253,616, Benton offers green spaces like Tyndall Park and a charming downtown area for residents to enjoy.
Methodology: All cities featured have a population of over 35,000 as per the US Census, and a median home sale price below the Arkansas average. Median home sale price and sale price per square foot data sourced from the Redfin Data Center in July 2024. Average rental data from Rent.com in July 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.