C-

Jacksonville, AR

Source:

Affordability Score: 54/100

Population: 37,979 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Jacksonville, AR aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 37,979 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (54/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $54,379, median home value of $163,600, median rent of $958 per month, and 20.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,147 per month (studio $984, 1BR $989, 3BR $1,540, 4BR $1,822).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 7.1% and poverty 18.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$54,379
Median household income
Education F
20.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $163,600 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,147/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$54,379
▼ 12% vs national
Per Capita Income
$28,937
Unemployment Rate
7.1%
Poverty Rate
18.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$163,600
▼ 41% vs national
Median Rent
$958/mo
Owner Occupied
53.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,147/mo
▼ 4% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$984
1BR
$989
2BR
$1,147
3BR
$1,540
4BR
$1,822

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
20.5%
▼ 9 ppt vs national
High School+
56.2%
Median Age
35.3
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Jacksonville, AR receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 37,979. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Jacksonville ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Jacksonville, AR affordable?
Jacksonville, AR receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $54,379. Median home value is $163,600.
What is the cost of living in Jacksonville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $958/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,147/mo. Median home value $163,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →