City Comparison
Russellville vs Paragould
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Paragould scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Russellville
Paragould
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Russellville is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Paragould.
Housing costs are a major driver: Russellville's average rent is
16% lower than Paragould's.
| Metric | Russellville | Paragould | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $800 | $950 | -16% |
| Groceries | $380 | $450 | -16% |
| Utilities | $165 | $180 | -8% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $250 | -16% |
| Monthly Total | $1,665 | $1,950 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 74 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Russellville offers 17% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Russellville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Russellville is estimated at
$42,000 vs $66,000 in Paragould.
| Metric | Russellville | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $47,991 | $41,176 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 58,526 idx | 55,643 idx |
| Household Income | $50,877 | $56,980 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Russellville | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Russellville has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Paragould.
Russellville scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Russellville leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Russellville | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Paragould is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Russellville.
From a growth perspective, Paragould is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Russellville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Russellville | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,521 | 31,135 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.32% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Russellville
Advantages
Average rent and overall cost of living are roughly 60% lower than the national average per Zillow and federal data.
Abundant outdoor recreation access, sitting directly adjacent to Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River.
Strong institutional anchor and cultural vitality provided by Arkansas Tech University.
Stable industrial and energy employment base anchored by major operations like Arkansas Nuclear One and Tyson Foods.
Short average commute times and easy access via Interstate 40.
Drawbacks
Poverty rate sits higher than the national average, standing at approximately 20.8% per U.S. Census Bureau data.
High car dependency with limited public transportation infrastructure for non-drivers.
Median household income trails both state and national averages.
Vulnerability to severe weather events typical of the Arkansas River Valley region.
Limited high-end entertainment and luxury retail options within city limits.
Paragould
Advantages
Paragould's cost of living is 26% below the national average, making it highly affordable.
The city is experiencing significant growth, ranking among Arkansas's fastest-growing cities with a 1.2% annual population increase.
Residents have access to highly-rated school districts and a modern community center with an aquatic park.
The local economy shows strong employment growth, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare.
Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities are available, including state parks, hiking trails, and fishing lakes.
Drawbacks
Some healthcare quality metrics, such as pulmonary mortality at the main hospital, have been rated 'worse than expected'.
The city is highly car-dependent, with limited public transit options and an average commute time of 22.8 minutes.
While overall cost of living is low, certain utility costs for renters can be higher than the national average.
The median individual income is lower than the median household income, suggesting a need for dual-income households or careful budgeting for single earners.
Walkability and transit scores are likely low due to the car-centric nature of the city, limiting options for those without personal vehicles.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Russellville
#250Arkansas, USA
62.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$800
Avg Salary
$47,991
Cost Index
82
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.32%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
73
Business
67
Paragould
#240Arkansas, USA
62.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$41,176
Cost Index
74
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
35.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.40%
Livability
74
Business
68
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