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MarketsArkansasRussellvilleCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Russellville, AR

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Russellville, AR

Cap Rate
3.80%
Median Price
$195K
Rent/Mo
$900
1% Rule
0.46%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Russellville's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x — homes cost 4.2 times the local median household income of $46,400. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Russellville (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,297/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,461. The median rent of $900/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Russellville is $46,400, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.9% per year. Russellville is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Russellville is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How Russellville Compares

Russellville vs Arkansas state average and national average across key investment metrics. Russellville's cap rate is below both benchmarks — deal sourcing is critical here.

Metric
Russellville
Arkansas Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
3.80%
4.54%
3.81%
Median Price
$195K
$220K
$333K
Median Rent
$900
$1,140
$1,524
Property Tax
0.61%
0.61%
1.08%
Vacancy
6%
6%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.9%/yr
0.9%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby South Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Russellville, AR
3.8%
$195K
$900
0.61%
Lafayette, LA
6.3%
$195K
$1,330
0.52%
Lake Charles, LA
5.3%
$195K
$1,150
0.54%
LaGrange, GA
5.5%
$195K
$1,250
0.93%
Lufkin, TX
5.4%
$195K
$1,360
1.72%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Russellville affordable for renters?
Renters in Russellville spend approximately 23% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $46,400, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Russellville?
Russellville's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x, meaning homes cost 4.2 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Russellville?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $195K home is approximately $1,037/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,202/mo. The median rent of $900/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Russellville's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Russellville ($195K) are 42% below the national average. Rents ($900/mo) are 41% below average. Property taxes (0.61%) are below the 1.08% national average.
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Explore Russellville & Related Markets

More Russellville Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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