City Comparison
West Memphis vs Paragould
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Paragould scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
West Memphis
Paragould
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Paragould is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in West Memphis.
Housing costs are a major driver: West Memphis's average rent is
26% higher than Paragould's.
| Metric | West Memphis | Paragould | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,200 | $950 | +26% |
| Groceries | $380 | $450 | -16% |
| Utilities | $165 | $180 | -8% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $2,075 | $1,950 | +6% |
| Cost Index | 84 | 74 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
West Memphis offers 9% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Paragould delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in West Memphis is estimated at
$42,000 vs $66,000 in Paragould.
| Metric | West Memphis | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $45,000 | $41,176 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 53,571 idx | 55,643 idx |
| Household Income | $42,674 | $56,980 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | West Memphis | 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
West Memphis has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Paragould.
West Memphis scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, West Memphis leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | West Memphis | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Paragould is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of West Memphis.
From a growth perspective, Paragould is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Paragould has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | West Memphis | Paragould |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,929 | 31,135 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.90% | 4.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
West Memphis
Advantages
Median property value is highly affordable at around $120,100 per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Strategic geographic logistics hub offering rapid access to major interstates 40 and 55.
Short average commute times of approximately 20 minutes for local workers.
Close proximity to the cultural and entertainment amenities of metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee.
Active local educational and workforce training presence through Arkansas State University Mid-South.
Drawbacks
Median household income trails the national average, standing at roughly $42,674 per Census reports.
Poverty rates remain elevated, with approximately 29.1% of individuals living below the poverty line.
Property crime rates and overall public safety statistics present ongoing challenges for residents.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high dependency on personal vehicles.
Local health indicators reflect higher-than-average rates of chronic health challenges.
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.
West Memphis
#503Arkansas, USA
52.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,200
Avg Salary
$45,000
Cost Index
84
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.90%
Livability
61
Business
65
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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