West Memphis, AR

Census place 0574540 · pop 23,929

F28/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in AR
📍 Arkansas ranks #35 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$120,100 · top 7%
🚽 Crime1927/100k · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.60% 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

Violent crime rate1927/100k0

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

1927 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Adult obesity49.6%0

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

49.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity42.7%1

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

42.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property crime rate4725/100k3

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

4725 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Adult smoking21.0%4

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

21.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate29.1%4

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

29.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health21.1%4

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

21.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$42,6744

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

$42,674 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher13.9%7

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

13.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access83.6%8

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

83.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership46.1%10

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

46.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Population growth (5yr)-3.6%12

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

-3.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.6%18

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

4.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults13.7%22

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

13.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level5 days36

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

5 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.

Income inequality0.4356

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

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

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

Natural disaster riskCounty-level81/10063

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

81/100 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.

Commute time20 min75

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

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

Property-tax burden0.60%83

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

0.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$120,10093

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

$120,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Not measured for West Memphis: Rent. 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 West Memphis, AR a good place to live?
By the numbers, West Memphis scores 28/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is violent 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 West Memphis, AR?
West Memphis reports 1927 violent crimes per 100k and 4725 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is West Memphis, AR expensive to live in?
West Memphis has a median home value of $120,100 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in West Memphis, AR?
Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (1927/100k) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is West Memphis, AR best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($120,100) — 93/100, 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.