Hot Springs, AR

Census place 0533400 · pop 37,920

D−40/ 100
🫤 Rough
D
in AR
📍 Arkansas ranks #35 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.49% · top 9%
🚽 Property crime4218/100k · bottom 4%
💡 Did you know?

Built around Hot Springs National Park, a Prohibition-era gangster hangout and boyhood home of Bill Clinton.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.49% property · US 0.99%9.46% sales · US 7.00%up to 3.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property crime rate4218/100k4

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

4218 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Median household income$47,7609

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$47,760 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access85.0%12

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

85.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity33.8%12

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

33.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult obesity41.2%13

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking17.5%16

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Violent crime rate524/100k16

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

524 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate20.5%17

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

20.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)-1.7%20

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-1.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.4821

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Air quality (AQI)County-level50 AQI25

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

50 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health18.6%28

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults12.6%28

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

12.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership57.0%30

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

57.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Bachelor's degree or higher26.1%40

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

26.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.7%47

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

3.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level86/10054

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

86/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$165,50081

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$165,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,226/mo87

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,226/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time17 min91

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property-tax burden0.49%91

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.49% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Frequently asked

Is Hot Springs, AR a good place to live?
By the numbers, Hot Springs scores 40/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is property crime rate. Arkansas overall ranks #35 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Hot Springs, AR?
Hot Springs reports 524 violent crimes per 100k and 4218 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Hot Springs, AR expensive to live in?
Hot Springs has a median home value of $165,500 and typical rent around $1,226/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Hot Springs, AR?
Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (4218/100k) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Hot Springs, AR best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.49%) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Built around Hot Springs National Park, a Prohibition-era gangster hangout and boyhood home of Bill Clinton.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.