City Comparison
Cabot vs Paragould
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cabot scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cabot
Paragould
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Paragould is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Cabot.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cabot's average rent is
11% higher than Paragould's.
| Metric | Cabot | Paragould | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $950 | +11% |
| Groceries | $390 | $450 | -13% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $1,960 | $1,950 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 74 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cabot offers 48% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cabot delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cabot is estimated at
$48,000 vs $66,000 in Paragould.
| Metric | Cabot | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,000 | $41,176 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 69,318 idx | 55,643 idx |
| Household Income | $75,000 | $56,980 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Cabot | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Paragould has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Cabot.
Cabot scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cabot leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cabot | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Paragould is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Cabot.
From a growth perspective, Paragould is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cabot has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cabot | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,512 | 31,135 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cabot
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly lower than the national average per Zillow data.
Cabot Public Schools are widely recognized as one of the top-performing districts in the state.
Crime rates are lower than regional and national averages, providing an exceptionally safe environment.
Convenient location just 25 miles from Little Rock provides easy access to big-city amenities while retaining small-town charm.
Steady local population growth and commercial development signal a healthy and appreciating local economy.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal vehicles results in significant commuter traffic during peak hours along US-67/167.
Public transportation infrastructure within the city is virtually non-existent.
Entertainment and nightlife options are limited locally, requiring trips to Little Rock for broader cultural events.
Local job diversification is somewhat narrow, with a heavy reliance on retail, education, and healthcare sectors.
Summer temperatures and humidity levels can be quite intense, typical of the Central Arkansas climate.
Paragould
Advantages
Paragould's cost of living is 26% below the national average, making it highly affordable.
The city is experiencing significant growth, ranking among Arkansas's fastest-growing cities with a 1.2% annual population increase.
Residents have access to highly-rated school districts and a modern community center with an aquatic park.
The local economy shows strong employment growth, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare.
Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities are available, including state parks, hiking trails, and fishing lakes.
Drawbacks
Some healthcare quality metrics, such as pulmonary mortality at the main hospital, have been rated 'worse than expected'.
The city is highly car-dependent, with limited public transit options and an average commute time of 22.8 minutes.
While overall cost of living is low, certain utility costs for renters can be higher than the national average.
The median individual income is lower than the median household income, suggesting a need for dual-income households or careful budgeting for single earners.
Walkability and transit scores are likely low due to the car-centric nature of the city, limiting options for those without personal vehicles.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cabot
#46Arkansas, USA
70.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
78
Business
70
Paragould
#240Arkansas, USA
62.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$41,176
Cost Index
74
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
35.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.40%
Livability
74
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Cabot and Paragould.
Open Cost Calculator