F

Sims, AR

Source:

Affordability Score: 38/100

Population: 376 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Sims, AR aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 376 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (38/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $38,224, median home value of $159,800, median rent of per month, and 28.7% 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 $880 per month (studio $630, 1BR $803, 3BR $1,096, 4BR $1,240).

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 income, housing. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 28.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$38,224
Median household income
Education D
28.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.2x
Home value $159,800 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent C
$880/mo
2BR fair market rent (28% 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
$38,224
▼ 38% vs national
Per Capita Income
$24,677
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
28.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$159,800
▼ 42% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
90.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$880/mo
▼ 27% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$630
1BR
$803
2BR
$880
3BR
$1,096
4BR
$1,240

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
28.7%
▼ 1 ppt vs national
High School+
61.2%
Median Age
50.2
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Sims, AR receives an overall affordability grade of F (38/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 376. Challenges include income and housing. Data was unavailable for commute, safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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

Is Sims, AR affordable?
Sims, AR receives an overall affordability grade of F (38/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $38,224. Median home value is $159,800.
What is the cost of living in Sims?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $880/mo. Median home value $159,800.
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 →