What it's like to live in Malvern
Malvern is a small city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Malvern deals with crime rates above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Malvern compares
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Malvern
Based on Malvern's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,528
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $30,560 a year
- 23% of Malvern renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$20,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $10,450
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 46% below US
$764/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $764 a month. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $104,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $104,500 · 23% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hot Spring County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hot Spring County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 126% above US
745 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2225/100k · Malvern Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 64% below US
13% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hot Springs National Park (17 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Malvern's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and college degree attainment below the national average. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Malvern
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