Housing decision brief
Randolph County, AR Housing Market
Randolph County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, 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.
33rd lowest home value out of 75 Arkansas counties with data | 20th lowest rent out of 75
Median home value
$118,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$671/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$533/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$138/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$118,100 median home value is 4% below Arkansas county median
Lower rent
$671/mo is 8% below Arkansas county median
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 $138/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 24.0 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
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
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 Randolph 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. | $118,100 | $122,600 | $281,900 | Near state median4% below Arkansas county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $671 | $727 | $1,163 | 8% favorable8% below Arkansas county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $533 | $589 | $1,672 | 10% favorable10% below Arkansas county median |
Median household income | $52,838 | $50,221 | $74,755 | 5% favorable5% above Arkansas county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.44% | 0.53% | 1.02% | 17% favorable17% 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
+$25,998
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,995
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Randolph County is affordable. The median rent is $671/month against a median household income of $52,838, putting rent at 15.2% of income.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Randolph County is $671/month, while owner costs run $533/month. Owning saves approximately $138/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $26,840/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $22,843/year. With a median household income of $52,838, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Randolph County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Sevier County where rent averages $725/month, Randolph County is approximately 7% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County, AR | $115,400 | $671/mo | Same-state comparison near $115,400 home value and $671/mo rent. |
| Franklin County, AR | $118,800 | $717/mo | Same-state comparison near $118,800 home value and $717/mo rent. |
| Lincoln County, AR | $106,100 | $672/mo | Same-state comparison near $106,100 home value and $672/mo rent. |
| Cleveland County, AR | $123,400 | $635/mo | Same-state comparison near $123,400 home value and $635/mo rent. |
| Polk County, AR | $122,600 | $699/mo | Same-state comparison near $122,600 home value and $699/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Randolph County
Is Randolph County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Randolph County?
How much income do you need for housing in Randolph County?
What should I double-check before moving to Randolph County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.