B-

Lowell, AR

Source:

Affordability Score: 69/100

Population: 11,376 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lowell, AR aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 11,376 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (69/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $91,207, median home value of $281,800, median rent of $1,159 per month, and 23.6% 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 $1,347 per month (studio $1,007, 1BR $1,115, 3BR $1,873, 4BR $2,213).

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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Lowell, AR include income, rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 1.7% and poverty 6.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$91,207
Median household income
Education F
23.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.1x
Home value $281,800 vs income
Commute B
21 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,347/mo
2BR fair market rent (18% 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
$91,207
▲ 47% vs national
Per Capita Income
$37,963
Unemployment Rate
1.7%
Poverty Rate
6.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$281,800
▲ 2% vs national
Median Rent
$1,159/mo
Owner Occupied
71.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,347/mo
▲ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,007
1BR
$1,115
2BR
$1,347
3BR
$1,873
4BR
$2,213

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
23.6%
▼ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
59.8%
Median Age
33.5
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Lowell, AR receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 11,376. This area performs well in income and rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Lowell ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lowell, AR affordable?
Lowell, AR receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $91,207. Median home value is $281,800.
What is the cost of living in Lowell?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,159/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,347/mo. Median home value $281,800.
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 →