Quality of Life Score
42.07
State Comparison
Arkansas vs West Virginia
West Virginia is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, West Virginia has higher incomes, Arkansas has lower state income tax, and Arkansas gets more sunshine.
Arkansas
16
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
West Virginia
15
/ 31
metrics won
WV wins Housing
AR wins Quality of Life
AR wins Climate
AR wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arkansas
vs
West Virginia
winner
West Virginia scores higher on quality of life — 4.93 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
West Virginia is 4.0 points cheaper overall
West Virginia has the lower cost-of-living index. West Virginia is at 83.6, while Arkansas is at 87.6.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.67 further in Arkansas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.40 of local buying power in Arkansas, versus $112.73 in West Virginia.
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Income
West Virginia income is 0.7% higher
West Virginia has the higher median household income at $52,480, compared with $52,123 in Arkansas.
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Jobs
Arkansas minimum wage is $2.25 higher
Arkansas has the higher statewide minimum wage at $11.00/hr, compared with $8.75/hr in West Virginia.
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Housing
Arkansas homes cost about 1.2x more
West Virginia has the lower median home value at $124,800, versus $154,200 in Arkansas.
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Taxes
Arkansas has lower state income tax
Arkansas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.40%, compared with 5.12% in West Virginia.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Arkansas
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.4%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
West Virginia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.1%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "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, 86.7 for West Virginia). 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 job growth trend is stronger.
- Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Arkansas education proxy is higher.
- Arkansas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arkansas has a higher overall cost of living.
- Arkansas has a higher housing cost index.
- Arkansas has higher median home values.
- Arkansas shows lower median income.
- Arkansas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
West Virginia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: West Virginia
- West Virginia has a lower overall cost of living.
- West Virginia has a lower housing cost index.
- West Virginia has lower median home values.
- West Virginia shows higher median income.
- West Virginia has lower property tax rates on average.
- West Virginia has a lower violent crime rate.
Cons
- West Virginia job growth trend is weaker.
- West Virginia health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- West Virginia education proxy is lower.
- West Virginia has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AR
|
WV
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Little Rock | Charleston |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,011,524
|
1,793,716
|
|
Median Income
|
$52,123
|
$52,480
|
|
Cost of Living
|
87.6
|
83.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$154,200
|
$124,800
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.55%
|
0.53%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.40%
|
5.12%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$11.00/hr
|
$8.75/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.610/gal
|
$3.975/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.35 c/kWh
|
14.77 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
42.07
|
47.00
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.4°F
|
51.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
123 days
|
60 days
|
|
Land Area
|
53,179 sq mi
|
24,230 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.6 per sq mi
|
74.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
June 15, 1836 (#25)
|
June 20, 1863 (#35)
|
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
16
shown
Saving Money
West Virginia is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 83.6 vs 87.6 in Arkansas. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Arkansas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.610/gal in Arkansas vs $3.975/gal in West Virginia. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Arkansas has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $11.00/hr in Arkansas vs $8.75/hr in West Virginia. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Arkansas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.35 c/kWh in Arkansas vs 14.77 c/kWh in West Virginia. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
West Virginia is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.38x in West Virginia vs 2.96x in Arkansas. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
West Virginia is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 19.0% in West Virginia vs 20.3% in Arkansas. 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 West Virginia by 1,217,808 people.
Population Density
West Virginia is more densely populated than Arkansas.
Bachelor's Degree
Arkansas has a higher college-educated share than West Virginia.
Advanced Degree
Arkansas and West Virginia have the same advanced-degree share.
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs West Virginia - Common Questions
Q Is Arkansas cheaper to live in than West Virginia?
West Virginia has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), West Virginia scores 83.6 versus 87.6 for Arkansas - a gap of 4.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arkansas or West Virginia?
$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $112.73 in West Virginia.
Q Which state is bigger - Arkansas or West Virginia?
Arkansas is larger, covering 53,179 sq mi compared with 24,230 sq mi for West Virginia - roughly 2.2x the size.
Q Does Arkansas or West Virginia have more people?
Arkansas has the larger population at 3,011,524, compared with 1,793,716 in West Virginia.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arkansas or West Virginia?
West Virginia has the higher median household income at $52,480, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arkansas or West Virginia?
Arkansas has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.40%, compared with 5.12% in West Virginia.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arkansas or West Virginia?
Homes are cheaper in West Virginia, where the median home value is $124,800, versus $154,200 in Arkansas.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arkansas or West Virginia?
West Virginia is more densely populated at 74.0 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.