About
Life in West Memphis
West Memphis is a community of 24,147 people in Arkansas. The median household income is $42,674, median rent runs about $870 per month, and median home values are around $119,100. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.
West Memphis at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.1%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
83.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Memphis: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Memphis, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (68.2%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.5%
of households
Married Couples
26.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 8% below AR average
Rent, home values, and income in West Memphis
In West Memphis, rent runs 8% below the AR average, and home values are 36% below the AR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$726
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $131,298 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.8 pts above AR average
Unemployment in West Memphis
Unemployment in West Memphis is 2.8 percentage points higher than the AR average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Memphis Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.1 min avg
How West Memphis residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Memphis, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 442% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Memphis runs 442% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,784.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,500.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Memphis Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Crittenden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Crittenden County, which includes West Memphis, 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 | $148,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Excessive Heat | $36,000 |
| 2023 | 23 | Heat | $318,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Heat | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Heat | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | Heat | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Heat | $1.0M |
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.
7 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Crittenden County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Crittenden County, which includes West Memphis, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
69
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Crittenden County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Memphis has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.7"
Hot Days/Year
66
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
58
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 33°F | 3.82" |
| Feb | 54°F | 36°F | 4.31" |
| Mar | 63°F | 43°F | 5.10" |
| Apr | 73°F | 52°F | 5.03" |
| May | 82°F | 62°F | 5.03" |
| Jun | 89°F | 69°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 91°F | 72°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 2.37" |
| Sep | 86°F | 64°F | 3.05" |
| Oct | 75°F | 52°F | 4.09" |
| Nov | 62°F | 42°F | 4.50" |
| Dec | 53°F | 36°F | 4.88" |
Healthcare2 hospitals
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Memphis
West Memphis has 2 hospitals.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
10.2%
of residents
Baptist Memorial Hospital-crittenden, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of West Memphis
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Jude Childrens Research Hospital
Childrens · 8.9 mi away · Memphis
Unity Psychiatric Care-memphis
Psychiatric · 9 mi away · Memphis
Regional One Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Memphis
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Memphis
West Memphis's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 13.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Memphis (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,701 students · in-state tuition $11,256 · 53% graduate · median earnings $52,227 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,836 students · in-state tuition $59,082 · 82% graduate · median earnings $79,506 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 905 students · in-state tuition $39,750 · 59% graduate · median earnings $55,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Baptist Health Sciences University
9.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 770 students · in-state tuition $14,036 · 49% graduate · median earnings $70,235 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 581 students · in-state tuition $12,778 · 28% graduate · median earnings $41,221 (10 yrs after entry)
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
9.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 394 students · 93% graduate · median earnings $77,971 (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, 69 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Memphis
West Memphis has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (69 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
69 mi awayEmmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
82 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Memphis
West Memphis Public Library
500 E. Broadway, West Memphis
Cities Near West Memphis
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Memphis?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Memphis FAQ
Is West Memphis, Arkansas affordable?⌄
West Memphis's median rent is $870/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $42,674/year. Median home value is $120,100.
Is West Memphis, Arkansas safe?⌄
West Memphis's violent crime rate was 1785 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3501 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Memphis, Arkansas?⌄
West Memphis has an unemployment rate of 6.9%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Memphis, Arkansas?⌄
The cost of living in West Memphis is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $870/month and median household income is $42,674/year. The median home value is $120,100. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Memphis, Arkansas?⌄
The average commute in West Memphis is 20 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