What it's like to live in Siloam Springs
Siloam Springs is a small city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Siloam Springs deals with crime rates above the national average, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Siloam Springs compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Siloam Springs
Based on Siloam Springs's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,006
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $40,120 a year
- 40% of Siloam Springs renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,170
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 29% below US
$1,003/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,003 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $221,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $221,700 · 40% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Benton County is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Benton County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 33% above US
438 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 929/100k · Siloam Springs Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 24% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pea Ridge National Military Park (33 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Siloam Springs'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 fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,003/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low). It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Siloam Springs
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Centerton →
18 mi away · pop. 21,920
Rent $1,465/mo · Income $115,713
Compare with Siloam Springs →Moving to Bentonville →
20 mi away · pop. 58,249
Rent $1,344/mo · Income $112,792
Compare with Siloam Springs →Moving to Springdale →
21 mi away · pop. 88,160
Rent $1,071/mo · Income $69,787
Compare with Siloam Springs →Moving to Lowell →
22 mi away · pop. 10,849
Rent $1,136/mo · Income $95,527
Compare with Siloam Springs →Not sure Siloam Springs is the one?
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