Urblytica 30 days free banner
Urblytica - Free Event Listing
List Business List Event

Jacksonville, Arkansas

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

60
Overall Score

Jacksonville, Arkansas, is a city with a rich military history and a strong sense of community, located less than 30 minutes from downtown Little Rock. It offers a family-friendly atmosphere and is known for its affordable housing. The city's character is shaped by its proximity to the Little Rock Air Force Base, which is a significant employer and contributes to the diverse population. Jacksonville is undergoing various development projects, including highway widening and new residential subdivisions, indicating ongoing growth and investment in its infrastructure.

About Arkansas

Arkansas, known as "The Natural State," offers diverse geography from the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains to the Mississippi River Delta, fostering a relaxed, nature-oriented lifestyle. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture with rice and poultry as leading products, has diversified to include significant contributions from manufacturing (food products, chemicals, wood and paper products, aerospace parts) and a growing service sector, largely influenced by Walmart's presence. Living in Arkansas is generally affordable, with a cost of living consistently below the national average, particularly for housing. The state experiences a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers, and while property taxes are low, sales taxes can be high.

29,400
Population
$31K
Avg Salary
80
Cost Index
59.9
Quality Score
How this 60/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 55 / 100 55.0 30% 16.5
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 80.0 68.8 25% 17.2
Economy & jobs Median household income: $49,666 Income needed to live here: $42,000 Unemployment rate: 4.4% 58.9 20% 11.8
Growth No usable reading — dataset average used 56.4 15% 8.5
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 60 / 100 60.0 10% 6.0
Overall score 59.9

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 3 (deep think), q=70), last refreshed 11 August 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

Businesses in Jacksonville

Featured local businesses in Jacksonville.

Put your business in front of people moving to Jacksonville Featured businesses appear here for everyone researching Jacksonville. Add a featured spot to your banner package, or start with a free listing.

Quality Scores

Business
60
Livability
65
Affordability
85
Growth
45

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Jacksonville is notably lower than the national average, making it an attractive option for residents seeking affordability. The median home value in Jacksonville is approximately $148,600, which is about 47% below the national average. This significant difference in housing costs is a primary driver of the city's overall affordability. While specific cost breakdowns for utilities, food, and transportation are not always directly available, the lower housing expenses generally translate to a more manageable budget for residents compared to larger metropolitan areas.

Average Rent
$1,250/mo
Groceries
$450/mo
Transport
$120/mo
Utilities
$180/mo
Healthcare
$250/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$40.00
Cinema ticket
$12.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$20.00
Monthly groceries
$400.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$150.00

Salary Insights

Jacksonville's economy employs approximately 11,900 people, with key industries including Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Transportation & Warehousing. Other significant sectors are Education and Public Administration. While the city has seen reports of business growth and new establishments opening, the overall employment in Jacksonville experienced a slight decline of -0.328% from 2023 to 2024. The average individual income in Jacksonville was $30,946 in 2024, reflecting the local wage landscape.

The average salary in Jacksonville is $30,946 per year. You would need approximately $42,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Retail Trade +-0.30% Education +-0.30% Transportation & Warehousing +-0.30% Health Care & Social Assistance +-0.30% Public Administration +-0.30%

Climate

🌡️
Avg Temp
☀️
Summer High
❄️
Winter Low
🌧️
"
Annual Rain
💧
70.00%
Humidity
🌤️
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Jacksonville is largely car-dependent, as indicated by its low Walk Score of 22 and Bike Score of 31. The city has minimal public transportation options and not many dedicated bike lanes, making personal vehicles essential for most errands and commutes. The average commute time for workers in Jacksonville is 20.3 minutes, which is relatively short. Ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the widening of Highway 67/167 (slated to become Interstate 57), aim to improve regional connectivity and ease driving conditions.

20 min
Avg Commute
20.00/10
Transit Score
22.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
The median home value in Jacksonville is significantly lower than the national average, making housing highly affordable.
Jacksonville offers a strong sense of community and a family-friendly atmosphere.
The average commute time for residents is relatively short at 20.3 minutes.
The city is undergoing various infrastructure and development projects, indicating investment and potential future improvements.
Jacksonville has numerous parks and hosts community events like FestiVille, providing recreational opportunities.
Drawbacks
Jacksonville's violent crime rate is higher than the national average.
As of April 2026, the city lacks an acute care hospital with an emergency department, impacting general healthcare access.
The city has minimal public transportation and low walkability, making it highly car-dependent.
The city experienced a slight decline in employment from 2023 to 2024.
The population is projected to have a slight annual decline in 2026.

Questions about Jacksonville

What people ask about living in and moving to Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Gathering the most common questions about Jacksonville…

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.
Azibiz.com Live Listings

Businesses for Sale in Jacksonville

Explore active acquisition & franchise opportunities .

View all Arkansas listings

Get quotes from local pros in Jacksonville

Tell us what you need and we’ll pass it to companies that serve your area. It’s free, and there’s no obligation.

Compare Jacksonville with any city

See how it stacks up on cost, income, and quality of life.

Start Comparing

Sponsored