Van Buren, AR
Census place 0571480 · pop 23,763
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
32.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
483 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
20.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
38.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2082 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$61,149 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
91.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
77/100 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.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$181,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.58% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,049/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Van Buren: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Van Buren, AR a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Van Buren scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is poor mental health. 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 Van Buren, AR?
- Van Buren reports 483 violent crimes per 100k and 2082 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Van Buren, AR expensive to live in?
- Van Buren has a median home value of $181,500 and typical rent around $1,049/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Van Buren, AR?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (19.9%) — 12/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Van Buren, AR best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,049/mo) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.