Housing decision brief
Boone County, AR Housing Market
Boone County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
63rd lowest home value out of 75 Arkansas counties with data | 30th lowest rent out of 75
Median home value
$169,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$715/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$747/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$32/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower rent
$715/mo is 2% below Arkansas county median
Rent burden below pressure line
24.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.53% effective property-tax rate is At the Arkansas county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Health context
Health score is 40.7 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
Poor Fit For
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Boone County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $169,300 | $122,600 | $281,900 | 38% pressure38% above Arkansas county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $715 | $727 | $1,163 | Near state median2% below Arkansas county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $747 | $589 | $1,672 | 27% pressure27% above Arkansas county median |
Median household income | $54,195 | $50,221 | $74,755 | 8% favorable8% above Arkansas county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.53% | 0.53% | 1.02% | Near state medianAt the Arkansas county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.00% | 27.00% | N/A | 11% favorable24.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,595
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$22,181
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Boone County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $715/month representing approximately 15.8% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 24.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Boone County is $715/month, while owner costs run $747/month. Renting saves approximately $32/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $28,600/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $32,014/year. With a median household income of $54,195, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Boone County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Boone County sits 8% more expensive than Jackson County ($662/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County, AR | $157,800 | $727/mo | Same-state comparison near $157,800 home value and $727/mo rent. |
| White County, AR | $159,600 | $806/mo | Same-state comparison near $159,600 home value and $806/mo rent. |
| Clark County, AR | $147,100 | $734/mo | Same-state comparison near $147,100 home value and $734/mo rent. |
| Pope County, AR | $161,700 | $855/mo | Same-state comparison near $161,700 home value and $855/mo rent. |
| Sebastian County, AR | $166,000 | $854/mo | Same-state comparison near $166,000 home value and $854/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Boone County
Is Boone County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Boone County?
How much income do you need for housing in Boone County?
What should I double-check before moving to Boone County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.