What it's like to live in West Memphis
West Memphis 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 air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Memphis deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- Shrinking population
- High poverty rate
How West Memphis compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Memphis
Based on West Memphis's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,740
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $34,800 a year
- 46% of West Memphis renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$24,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $12,010
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 38% below US
$870/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $870 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 $120,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $120,100 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 60% above US
6.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.9%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 442% above US
1785 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 3501/100k · West Memphis Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 61% below US
14% 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
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (69 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Memphis's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($870/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near West Memphis
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Forrest City →
35 mi away · pop. 12,646
Rent $805/mo · Income $35,689
Compare with West Memphis →Moving to Jonesboro →
53 mi away · pop. 80,137
Rent $956/mo · Income $55,424
Compare with West Memphis →Moving to Blytheville →
56 mi away · pop. 12,790
Rent $855/mo · Income $47,865
Compare with West Memphis →Not sure West Memphis is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.