Housing decision brief
Garland County, AR Housing Market
Garland County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable 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.
66th lowest home value out of 75 Arkansas counties with data | 69th lowest rent out of 75
Median home value
$176,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$942/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$755/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$187/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $187/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 35.7 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
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- 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 Garland 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. | $176,400 | $122,600 | $281,900 | 44% pressure44% above Arkansas county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $942 | $727 | $1,163 | 30% pressure30% above Arkansas county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $755 | $589 | $1,672 | 28% pressure28% above Arkansas county median |
Median household income | $55,409 | $50,221 | $74,755 | 10% favorable10% above Arkansas county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.52% | 0.53% | 1.02% | Near state median2% below Arkansas county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 27.00% | N/A | Near state median26.00% 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
+$17,729
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$23,052
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Garland County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $942/month representing approximately 20.4% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Garland County pay $942/month on average, compared to $755/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 20%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $37,680/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $32,357/year. With a median household income of $55,409, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Garland County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Crittenden County where rent averages $883/month, Garland County is approximately 7% more expensive.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County, AR | $174,600 | $853/mo | Same-state comparison near $174,600 home value and $853/mo rent. |
| Craighead County, AR | $198,700 | $930/mo | Same-state comparison near $198,700 home value and $930/mo rent. |
| Sebastian County, AR | $166,000 | $854/mo | Same-state comparison near $166,000 home value and $854/mo rent. |
| Pope County, AR | $161,700 | $855/mo | Same-state comparison near $161,700 home value and $855/mo rent. |
| Carroll County, AR | $186,300 | $818/mo | Same-state comparison near $186,300 home value and $818/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Garland County
Is Garland County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Garland County?
How much income do you need for housing in Garland County?
What should I double-check before moving to Garland County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.