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West Memphis, AR

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West Memphis, AR

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Demographics

Majority BlackSimpson's Diversity Index: 51
Population24,147
Foreign Born0.4%
Population Density809people per mi²
Median Age34.6 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

61/100

39% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in West Memphis, Arkansas

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $14k$25k
Comfortable $23k$34k
Luxury $75k+$116k+
Elite (Top 5%) $88k+$136k+
Affordability Ratio

123%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean90%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
28
Positive
40
Poor
4
Negative
3

Groceries

2 within 10 miles

0.8mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.5mi

Hospital

19 within 20 miles

1.3mi

Airport

BNA — Nashville International

208.7mi

Post Office

USPS — West Memphis, AR

1.3mi

Critical Amenities

Golf1Nearest 7.7 mi
Camping9Nearest 7.5 mi
Marina2Nearest 7.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
F
Distressed

A low-income area with significant economic hardship. Household wealth and educational attainment are well below national averages.

Median HHI
$42k+2.3%
44% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$157k
76% below US avg
College Educated
14.8%
58% below US avg
WFH
5.9%
59% below US avg
Homeownership
45.4%
31% below US avg
Median Home
$119k
58% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
F
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 88% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
52.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−23.9%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−34.1%
Homicide
0.52 / 1k Residents717% above state avg
Robbery
1.29 / 1k Residents332% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
15.32 / 1k Residents285% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−13.7%
Burglary
6.82 / 1k Residents160% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
23.47 / 1k Residents104% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
4.46 / 1k Residents240% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+23Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for West Memphis, Arkansas
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C
Weak10.2% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
B
GoodFPC Grade B
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season248 days325 frost-free
Annual Rainfall57.1"
Elevation217 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor8.5 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak809/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake, Inland Flooding, Heat Wave, Tornado, Cold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 695 mi · coast 331 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$38.8M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T07:16:41.000Z

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