Arizona
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Arizona vs Arkansas
Arkansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, Arizona has higher incomes, Arizona has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.
Arizona
AZ · West
18 / 33
metrics won
Winner
VS
Arkansas
AR · South
15 / 33
metrics won
AR wins Housing
AR wins Quality of Life
AZ wins Climate
AZ wins Income
AZ wins Demographics
AZ wins Taxes
AZ 18
15 AR
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Arizona fits you better
Arizona wins 18 of 33 scored metrics against Arkansas.
Your match — Saving Money
Arkansas is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 87.6 in Arkansas vs 103.1 in Arizona. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
Arizona has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.35/hr in Arizona vs $11.00/hr in Arkansas. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Arkansas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.96x in Arkansas vs 4.51x in Arizona. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Arkansas is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 60.4°F in Arkansas vs 60.3°F in Arizona. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
Arizona looks better for families
Arizona wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, bachelor's degree, compared with Arkansas. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Arkansas
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Phoenix
vs
Little Rock
State Color
Swing State
vs
Solid Red
Population
7,691,212
3,133,502
Median Income
$72,581
$52,123
Cost of Living
103.1
87.6
Median Housing Value
$327,400
$154,200
Property Tax
0.48%
0.55%
State Income Tax
2.50%
4.40%
Minimum Wage
$14.35/hr
$11.00/hr
Gas Price
$4.742/gal
$3.610/gal
Electricity Rates
15.61 c/kWh
12.35 c/kWh
Livability Score
51.01
42.07
Average Temperature
60.3°F
60.4°F
Sunny Days
193 days
123 days
Land Area
113,990 sq mi
53,179 sq mi
Population Density
67.5 per sq mi
58.9 per sq mi
Statehood
February 14, 1912 (#48)
June 15, 1836 (#25)
Population
7,691,212
3,133,502
Population Density
67.5 per sq mi
58.9 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
33.5%
26.2%
Advanced Degree
13.1%
9.5%
Net Domestic Migration
+31,100
+14,500
Population Growth Since 2020
+7.5%
+4.0%
Livability Score
51.01
42.07
Best State to Live In
51.01
42.07
Cost of Living
103.1
87.6
Gas Price
$4.742/gal
$3.610/gal
Gas Tax
18.00 c/gal
24.70 c/gal
Electricity Rates
15.61 c/kWh
12.35 c/kWh
Commute Time
25.9 min
22.0 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,111/yr
$2,450/yr
Average Credit Score
709
693
Average Temperature
60.3°F
60.4°F
Summer Temperature
78.1°F
78.8°F
Winter Temperature
43.6°F
41.5°F
Sunny Days
193 days
123 days
Annual Precipitation
13.6 in
50.6 in
Average Wind Speed
7.3 mph
7.4 mph
Lightning Density
28.2 per sq mi
145.6 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$327,400
$154,200
Median Gross Rent
$1,311/mo
$881/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$1,893/mo
$1,375/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$560/mo
$450/mo
Homeownership Rate
65.5%
66.2%
Home Value to Income Ratio
4.51x
2.96x
Rent to Income Ratio
21.7%
20.3%
Owner Costs to Income
16.6%
14.6%
Home Insurance Cost
$2,605/yr
$5,045/yr
State Income Tax
2.50%
4.40%
State Sales Tax
5.60%
6.50%
Property Tax
0.48%
0.55%
Total Tax Burden
7.24%
8.44%
Grocery Tax Rate
0% (Exempt)
0.125% (Reduced)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
No State Death Tax
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
No
vs
Yes
State Color
Swing State
vs
Solid Red
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +5.51
Rep +30.64
Swing State / Battleground
Battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Democratic
vs
Republican
State House Control
Republican
vs
Republican
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Republican
Trifecta
No Trifecta
vs
Republican Trifecta
Electoral Votes
11
6
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
License State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Legal
vs
Medical
Minimum Marriage Age
16
17
Gun Ownership
39.5%
57.2%
Abortion Law Status
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
vs
Total Ban (Banned)
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
vs
Yes
Land Area
113,990 sq mi
53,179 sq mi
Highest Point
Humphreys Peak (12,637 ft)
Magazine Mountain (Signal Hill) (2,753 ft)
Statehood
February 14, 1912 (#48)
June 15, 1836 (#25)
Capital City
Phoenix
vs
Little Rock
Region
West
vs
South
Life Expectancy
76.6 yrs
73.4 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
51.3
34.5
Uninsured Rate
9.9%
8.9%
Obesity Rate
33.3%
38.9%
Healthcare Quality Score
55.8
35.2
Infant Mortality Rate
5.40 per 1,000
8.28 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
32.6 per 100,000
13.9 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
473.4 per 100k
556.3 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
2150.2 per 100k
2507.2 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
5
1
Casinos
29 (Talking Stick Resort)
3 (Oaklawn)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
64.0 per 100K
42.0 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Tesla
vs
GMC
K-12 Education Rank
#49
#41
High School Graduation Rate
82.0%
90.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.4:1
14.0:1
School Spending
$12,003
$13,873
Teacher Salary
$64,291
$59,193
Public School Ranking
#50
#38
Student Loan Debt
$35,792
$34,024
College Graduation Rate
40.1%
46.6%
Median Income
$72,581
$52,123
Regional Price Parity
99.2
86.1
Purchasing Power of $100
$103.97
$113.40
Poverty Rate
12.4%
15.7%
Employment/Population Ratio
57.8%
56.1%
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
4.2%
Job Growth
0.8%
1.1%
Infant Childcare Cost
$15,625/yr
$8,873/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$101,587/yr
$81,078/yr
Water Quality Score
77.4/100 (B)
83.7/100 (A)
Annual Power Outage Hours
1.5 hours/yr
8.5 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#35
#44
Renewable Electricity Share
17.0%
9.1%
Largest Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
vs
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Arizona
Pros
- Arizona shows higher median income.
- Arizona has lower property tax rates on average.
- Arizona has a lower violent crime rate.
- Arizona health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Arizona education proxy is higher.
- Arizona has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arizona has a higher overall cost of living.
- Arizona has a higher housing cost index.
- Arizona has higher median home values.
- Arizona job growth trend is weaker.
- Arizona health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Arkansas
Pros
- Arkansas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Arkansas has a lower housing cost index.
- Arkansas has lower median home values.
- Arkansas job growth trend is stronger.
- Arkansas health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Arkansas shows lower median income.
- Arkansas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Arkansas education proxy is lower.
- Arkansas has fewer sunny days.
People also ask
Arizona vs Arkansas — common questions
QIs Arizona cheaper to live in than Arkansas?
Arkansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arkansas scores 87.6 versus 103.1 for Arizona - a gap of 15.5 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - Arizona or Arkansas?
$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $103.97 in Arizona.
QWhich state is bigger - Arizona or Arkansas?
Arizona is larger, covering 113,990 sq mi compared with 53,179 sq mi for Arkansas - roughly 2.1x the size.
QDoes Arizona or Arkansas have more people?
Arizona has the larger population at 7,691,212, compared with 3,133,502 in Arkansas.
QWhich state has higher household income - Arizona or Arkansas?
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - Arizona or Arkansas?
Arizona has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 4.40% in Arkansas.
QIs housing cheaper in Arizona or Arkansas?
Homes are cheaper in Arkansas, where the median home value is $154,200, versus $327,400 in Arizona.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Arizona or Arkansas?
Arizona is more densely populated at 67.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arkansas is more spread out at 58.9 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related comparisons
Methodology
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.