Living in Jonesboro, AR offers a blend of small-town charm and modern conveniences, with the benefit of being close to a major urban center. Located in Northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro is just over an hour’s drive from Memphis, Tennessee, making it an ideal location for those who want to enjoy a quieter lifestyle while having easy access to the amenities of a larger city. The city is known for its strong sense of community, growing economy, and vibrant local culture.
Jonesboro’s dining scene is diverse, offering a range of options from Southern comfort food to international cuisine. The city’s downtown area, especially around Main Street, is a hub of activity, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The annual Downtown Jonesboro BBQ & Music Festival is a highlight of the year, bringing the community together to enjoy live music, delicious food, and family-friendly activities.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Jonesboro provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. The city’s parks, including Craighead Forest Park and the Arkansas State University campus, offer scenic spots for hiking, biking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the region. The nearby Crowley’s Ridge Parkway provides additional opportunities for scenic drives and exploring the unique landscapes of Northeast Arkansas.
Jonesboro is also known for its strong sense of community and commitment to education and culture. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the ASU Theatre productions and the Craighead County Fair, which bring residents together to celebrate and enjoy the community spirit. The city’s proximity to Memphis means that residents can easily access the amenities of a major city, including theaters, museums, and professional sports venues.
For those considering a move to Arkansas, Jonesboro offers a perfect blend of small-town charm, cultural richness, and urban convenience. Whether you're drawn by its parks, community events, or easy access to Memphis, living in Jonesboro, AR provides a fulfilling and dynamic lifestyle.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Amenities
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Jonesboro is a mid-sized city located in the state of Arkansas. The city has a population of 79,653 residents. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (71% White). Given that fact, Jonesboro could be considered less diverse than other cities. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Jonesboro will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 18 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Jonesboro is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before relocating to any new city in Arkansas, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Jonesboro and in the areas around Jonesboro is a much easier task.
Using data and statistics Jonesboro has received a livability score of 65 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 59th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Jonesboro has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). The bad news for Jonesboro, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (D) and employment (D-).
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Jonesboro excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Assuming that Jonesboro meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Jonesboro. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Jonesboro are simply unattainable. The median home price for Jonesboro homes is $291,395, which is 39.4% higher than the Arkansas average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Jonesboro, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 27.3% higher than the Arkansas average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Jonesboro | Arkansas | National |
| Average one way commute | 18min | 22min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.9% | 82.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.4% | 10.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.2% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.7% | 1.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.4% | 3.2% | 4.6% |
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