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Living in
Jonesboro.
About
Life in Jonesboro
If you're considering Jonesboro, understand that you're moving to a regional economic center anchored by Arkansas State University, which shapes much of the city's character and cultural life. The job market is solid with a 4.2% unemployment rate, and the cost of living is genuinely affordable—median home values around $223,200 and median rent at $956 make homeownership realistic for most households. The median household income of $55,424 is reasonable for the area, though it does reflect that this is still a smaller southern city rather than a major metro.
Jonesboro at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.8%
Foreign-Born
4.6%
Broadband Internet
87.7%
of households
Population Growth
+6.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Jonesboro: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jonesboro, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.3%), and 6.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.5%
of households
Married Couples
41.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.41
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AR
Rent, home values, and income in Jonesboro
In Jonesboro, home values are 19% above the AR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,239
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $226,988 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AR
Unemployment in Jonesboro
Unemployment in Jonesboro is close to the AR average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Jonesboro Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18 min avg
How Jonesboro residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jonesboro, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 68 mi
Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM)
Small hub2.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 75% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jonesboro runs 75% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
575.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,486.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jonesboro Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Craighead County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Craighead County, which includes Jonesboro, the most common type is heat, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Heat | $5.0M |
| 2024 | 21 | Hail | $38,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heat | $287,000 |
| 2022 | 36 | Heat | $172,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Hail | $2.8M |
| 2020 | 19 | Hail | $300.1M |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $629,000 |
| 2018 | 31 | Heat | $131,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
11 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Craighead County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jackson County, AR (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 34 miles from Jonesboro) is typically good — 76 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
76
per year
Moderate Days
46
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jackson County, AR (34 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jonesboro has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.9"
Hot Days/Year
60
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
75
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 3.90" |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 4.11" |
| Mar | 60°F | 38°F | 5.23" |
| Apr | 71°F | 48°F | 5.36" |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 5.73" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 3.35" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 3.61" |
| Aug | 89°F | 68°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 3.50" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.97" |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 4.89" |
| Dec | 49°F | 30°F | 4.68" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jonesboro
Jonesboro has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
8.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Bernards Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jonesboro
Jonesboro's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jonesboro
Public · 4-year · 9,110 students · in-state tuition $8,354 · 56% graduate · median earnings $47,220 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jonesboro
Jonesboro has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
58 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jonesboro
Jonesboro / Craighead County Public Library
315 West Oak Avenue, Jonesboro
Cities Near Jonesboro
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jonesboro?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jonesboro FAQ
Is Jonesboro, Arkansas affordable?⌄
Jonesboro's median rent is $956/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,424/year. Median home value is $223,200.
Is Jonesboro, Arkansas safe?⌄
Jonesboro's violent crime rate was 575 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2486 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jonesboro, Arkansas?⌄
Jonesboro has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jonesboro, Arkansas?⌄
The cost of living in Jonesboro is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $956/month and median household income is $55,424/year. The median home value is $223,200. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jonesboro, Arkansas?⌄
The average commute in Jonesboro is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from