Quality of Life Score
42.07
State Comparison
Arkansas vs Mississippi
Mississippi is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Mississippi, Arkansas has higher incomes, Arkansas has lower state income tax, and Arkansas gets more sunshine.
Arkansas
19
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Mississippi
12
/ 31
metrics won
MS wins Housing
AR wins Quality of Life
MS wins Climate
AR wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arkansas
vs
Mississippi
winner
Mississippi scores higher on quality of life — 1.46 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Mississippi is 2.1 points cheaper overall
Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Arkansas is at 87.6.
View detailed comparison
Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $2.61 further in Mississippi
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $116.01 of local buying power in Mississippi, versus $113.40 in Arkansas.
View detailed comparison
Income
Arkansas income is 6.1% higher
Arkansas has the higher median household income at $52,123, compared with $49,111 in Mississippi.
View detailed comparison
Jobs
Arkansas minimum wage is $3.75 higher
Arkansas has the higher statewide minimum wage at $11.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Mississippi.
View detailed comparison
Housing
Arkansas homes cost about 1.1x more
Mississippi has the lower median home value at $140,800, versus $154,200 in Arkansas.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
Arkansas has lower state income tax
Arkansas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.40%, compared with 4.70% in Mississippi.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
$
$10k$250k$500k
Arkansas
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.4%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Mississippi
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.7%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
—
* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (86.1 for Arkansas, 85.5 for Mississippi). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Arkansas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Arkansas
- Arkansas shows higher median income.
- Arkansas has lower property tax rates on average.
- Arkansas job growth trend is stronger.
- Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Arkansas health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Arkansas education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Arkansas has a higher overall cost of living.
- Arkansas has a higher housing cost index.
- Arkansas has higher median home values.
- Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
Mississippi
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Mississippi
- Mississippi has a lower overall cost of living.
- Mississippi has a lower housing cost index.
- Mississippi has lower median home values.
- Mississippi has a lower violent crime rate.
Cons
- Mississippi shows lower median income.
- Mississippi has higher property tax rates on average.
- Mississippi job growth trend is weaker.
- Mississippi health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Mississippi health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Mississippi education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AR
|
MS
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Little Rock | Jackson |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,011,524
|
2,961,279
|
|
Median Income
|
$52,123
|
$49,111
|
|
Cost of Living
|
87.6
|
85.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$154,200
|
$140,800
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.55%
|
0.72%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.40%
|
4.70%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$11.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.610/gal
|
$3.755/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.35 c/kWh
|
14.24 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
42.07
|
43.53
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.4°F
|
63.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
123 days
|
111 days
|
|
Land Area
|
53,179 sq mi
|
48,432 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.6 per sq mi
|
61.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
June 15, 1836 (#25)
|
December 10, 1817 (#20)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
17
shown
Saving Money
Mississippi is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 85.5 vs 87.6 in Arkansas. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Arkansas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.610/gal in Arkansas vs $3.755/gal in Mississippi. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Arkansas has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $11.00/hr in Arkansas vs $7.25/hr in Mississippi. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Arkansas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.35 c/kWh in Arkansas vs 14.24 c/kWh in Mississippi. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Mississippi is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.87x in Mississippi vs 2.96x in Arkansas. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Arkansas is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.3% in Arkansas vs 20.6% in Mississippi. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Arkansas has a larger population than Mississippi by 50,245 people.
Population Density
Mississippi is more densely populated than Arkansas.
Bachelor's Degree
Arkansas has a higher college-educated share than Mississippi.
Advanced Degree
Mississippi has a higher advanced-degree share than Arkansas.
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs Mississippi - Common Questions
Q Is Arkansas cheaper to live in than Mississippi?
Mississippi has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Mississippi scores 85.5 versus 87.6 for Arkansas - a gap of 2.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arkansas or Mississippi?
$100 goes further in Mississippi. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $116.01 in Mississippi, compared with $113.40 in Arkansas.
Q Which state is bigger - Arkansas or Mississippi?
Arkansas is larger, covering 53,179 sq mi compared with 48,432 sq mi for Mississippi - roughly 1.1x the size.
Q Does Arkansas or Mississippi have more people?
Arkansas has the larger population at 3,011,524, compared with 2,961,279 in Mississippi.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arkansas or Mississippi?
Arkansas has the higher median household income at $52,123, versus $49,111 in Mississippi.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arkansas or Mississippi?
Arkansas has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.40%, compared with 4.70% in Mississippi.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arkansas or Mississippi?
Homes are cheaper in Mississippi, where the median home value is $140,800, versus $154,200 in Arkansas.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arkansas or Mississippi?
Mississippi is more densely populated at 61.1 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arkansas is more spread out at 56.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.