The 71701 zip code in Camden tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Arkansas.
We looked at 85 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Arkansas
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden 🥇 | 100.0 | $108,335 | $1,332 |
| 2 | El Dorado 🥈 | 99.2 | $135,034 | $1,332 |
| 3 | Pine Bluff 🥉 | 98.6 | $98,803 | $1,332 |
| 4 | White Hall | 97.6 | $135,540 | $1,332 |
| 5 | Malvern | 97.0 | $144,057 | $1,332 |
| 6 | Little Rock | 95.8 | $133,265 | $1,001 |
| 7 | Blytheville | 93.9 | $101,815 | $1,332 |
| 8 | Forrest City | 93.3 | $75,037 | $1,332 |
| 9 | West Memphis | 92.8 | $132,123 | $1,332 |
| 10 | North Little Rock | 92.7 | $132,918 | $986 |
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1. Camden
Here's why the 71701 zip code in Camden is Arkansas's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Camden
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $108,335[1] | No. 7 | -$139,684.61 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.2 | No. 7 | -1.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 3.3%[2] | No. 1 | -31.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.7%[3] | No. 3 | -4.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[4] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $49,110[5] | No. 68 | -$17,240 |
| Property taxes | $554[6] | No. 3 | -$781 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[7] | No. 75 | $0.01 |
Camden's 71701 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Arkansas, leading the 85 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $108,335, making it the 7th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a -3.7% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,332 per month, which is the 37th cheapest amount in Arkansas.
The median property tax for homeowners in Camden is $554 per household, the No. 3 ranked market in Arkansas.
Residents pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 75 among Arkansas markets.
2. El Dorado
The 71730 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Arkansas.
🔎 Key data about El Dorado
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 99.2 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $135,034[8] | No. 15 | -$112,985.62 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.4 | No. 8 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 3.7%[9] | No. 2 | -30.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.8%[10] | No. 5 | -3.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[11] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $55,770[12] | No. 54 | -$10,580 |
| Property taxes | $740[13] | No. 19 | -$595 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[14] | No. 75 | $0.01 |
El Dorado's 71730 zip code has a median home value of $135,034, which is the 5th-cheapest housing market in Arkansas. You can rent for an average of $1,332 per month. That's the 31st-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $55,770, which ranks 54th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in El Dorado pay a median property tax of $740 per year, making it the 19th-most affordable market in Arkansas.
El Dorado ranks No. 75 among Arkansas energy markets. You'll pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity.
3. Pine Bluff
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Arkansas is Pine Bluff's 71603 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Pine Bluff
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 98.6 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $98,803[15] | No. 5 | -$149,216.10 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.9 | No. 4 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.4%[16] | No. 11 | -18.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.3%[17] | No. 7 | -2.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[18] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $53,130[19] | No. 60 | -$13,220 |
| Property taxes | $874[20] | No. 29 | -$461 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[21] | No. 77 | $0.01 |
The No. 5 cheapest housing market in Arkansas is Pine Bluff's 71603 zip code, with a median home value of $98,803. Rents in the market average $1,332 per month, making it the 31st-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Pine Bluff is $874, which makes it the 29th-cheapest place in Arkansas. Pine Bluff ranks No. 77 among Arkansas markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity.
4. White Hall
The 71602 zip code in White Hall comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Arkansas.
🔎 Key data about White Hall
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 97.6 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $135,540[22] | No. 16 | -$112,478.71 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.5 | No. 9 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.3%[23] | No. 10 | -18.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.1%[24] | No. 8 | -2.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[25] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $55,204[26] | No. 56 | -$11,146 |
| Property taxes | $817[27] | No. 25 | -$518 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[28] | No. 62 | $0.00 |
The No. 16 cheapest housing market in Arkansas is White Hall's 71602 zip code, where the median home value is $135,540. Renters here pay an average of $1,332 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, White Hall ranks 62nd among Arkansas markets. Residents pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $817, which makes it the 25th-cheapest market in Arkansas.
5. Malvern
The 72104 zip code in Malvern ranks No. 5 among Arkansas's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Malvern
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 97.0 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $144,057[29] | No. 19 | -$103,961.75 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.6 | No. 13 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 8.8%[30] | No. 4 | -25.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.0%[31] | No. 9 | -2.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[32] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $54,774[33] | No. 57 | -$11,576 |
| Property taxes | $721[34] | No. 15 | -$614 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[35] | No. 84 | $0.01 |
Malvern's 72104 zip code has a median home value of $144,057, the 19th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a -2.0% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Malvern is $721. It's the 15th-cheapest market by tax rate in Arkansas.
6. Little Rock
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Arkansas is the 72206 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Little Rock
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 95.8 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $133,265[36] | No. 14 | -$114,754.26 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.6 | No. 12 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.8%[37] | No. 12 | -17.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.1%[38] | No. 32 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,001[39] | No. 7 | -$331 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.92% | No. 29 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $52,132[40] | No. 63 | -$14,218 |
| Property taxes | $626[41] | No. 8 | -$709 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[42] | No. 40 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Little Rock's 72206 zip code, which has the 14th-cheapest home values in Arkansas. The median home value is $133,265. Rents average $1,001 per month, making it the 7th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity. It's the 40th-cheapest energy market.
7. Blytheville
Blytheville's 72315 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Arkansas.
🔎 Key data about Blytheville
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 93.9 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $101,815[43] | No. 6 | -$146,204.08 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.9 | No. 5 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 34.4%[44] | No. 53 | 0.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.4%[45] | No. 4 | -3.8% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[46] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $52,259[47] | No. 62 | -$14,091 |
| Property taxes | $728[48] | No. 17 | -$607 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[49] | No. 5 | -$0.02 |
You'll find the 6th-cheapest home values in Arkansas in Blytheville's 72315 zip code. The median value: $101,815. Renters in Blytheville pay an average of $1,332 per month.
Homeowners in Blytheville pay a median property tax of $728 per year, which is Arkansas's 17th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $52,259, which ranks 62nd-highest in the state.
8. Forrest City
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Arkansas is Forrest City's 72335 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Forrest City
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 93.3 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $75,037[50] | No. 2 | -$172,981.85 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.9 | No. 3 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 34.4%[51] | No. 53 | 0.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.9%[52] | No. 1 | -4.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[53] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $40,400[54] | No. 83 | -$25,950 |
| Property taxes | $417[55] | No. 2 | -$918 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[56] | No. 20 | $0.00 |
The 2nd-cheapest housing market in Arkansas is Forrest City's 72335 zip code, with a median home value of $75,037. Renters pay an average of $1,332 per month, the No. 31 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Forrest City is $417, which makes it the 2nd-cheapest place in Arkansas. The average household income of $40,400 ranks 83rd.
9. West Memphis
West Memphis's 72301 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Arkansas's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about West Memphis
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.8 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $132,123[57] | No. 12 | -$115,896.37 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 24 | -0.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 13.0%[58] | No. 7 | -21.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.3%[59] | No. 15 | -0.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,332[60] | No. 31 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.01% | No. 37 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $42,859[61] | No. 77 | -$23,491 |
| Property taxes | $726[62] | No. 16 | -$609 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[63] | No. 1 | -$0.02 |
The 12th-cheapest housing market in Arkansas is West Memphis's 72301 zip code, where the median home value is $132,123. Renters pay an average of $1,332 per month. It's the state's 31st-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $726, which makes it the 16th-cheapest property tax rate in Arkansas.
10. North Little Rock
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Arkansas goes to the 72118 zip code in North Little Rock.
🔎 Key data about North Little Rock
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 85 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.7 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $132,918[64] | No. 13 | -$115,100.82 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.7 | No. 14 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 21.9%[65] | No. 18 | -12.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.1%[66] | No. 32 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $986[67] | No. 5 | -$345 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.99% | No. 35 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $49,559[68] | No. 67 | -$16,791 |
| Property taxes | $943[69] | No. 33 | -$392 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[70] | No. 40 | $0.00 |
The 13th-most affordable market in Arkansas is North Little Rock's 72118 zip code. The median home value is $132,918. Rent in the market costs $986 per month on average, making it the 5th-most affordable rental market in Arkansas.
The median property tax for households in North Little Rock is $943, which is the 33rd-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
North Little Rock ranks No. 40 among Arkansas markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Arkansas
We evaluated 85 zip codes in Arkansas with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Arkansas, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Arkansas average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Arkansas average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
