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Cost of homeownership in Garland County, Arkansas

Real dollar cost of ownership, rent-vs-buy analysis, and flood risk, backed by Census ACS, FEMA, and FHFA data. Population: 100,021.

Median home value
$166,600
Median property tax
$876
Monthly owner cost
$1,182
with mortgage
Affordability (cost % of income)
16.3%

Total annual ownership cost

Breakdown of what owning a typical home in Garland County costs each year.

  • Property taxes$876
  • Insurance estimate$1,500
  • Utilities / energy$1,387
  • Maintenance (1% of value)$1,666
  • Total$5,429/yr · $452/mo

Insurance and energy figures typically vary by property. Adjust in the calculators for a personalized estimate.

Total
$5,429
/ year

Rent vs. buy in Garland County

Pre-filled with local median home value, median gross rent (Census ACS / HUD FMR), and current FRED rate.

Flood risk

Historical signal from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

MODERATE RISK
Total claims
47
Avg claim
$8,069
Active policies
120
Avg premium
$864
NFIP policy

Risk bucket is normalized as historical claims per 1,000 housing units, not raw count, so dense urban counties aren't penalized for size alone. Buckets: low (<1), moderate (1–10), high (10–50), very-high (50+). Garland County: 1.09 per 1,000. Historical claims do not capture uninsured properties. For parcel-level flood-zone designations, use FEMA's Map Service Center.

Full flood-risk breakdown →

Home price trend in Arkansas

FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.

vs. Arkansas average
Home value above state average.
Property tax above state average.
Homeownership
68.3%

Share of units owner-occupied (Census ACS).

Median household income
$54,229

Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Housing cost burden in Garland County

Share of households paying 30% or more of income on housing (HUD CHAS 2017-2021). HUD does not publish county-level CHAS rollups through the public API, so Arkansas state data is shown for local context alongside the US average.

Arkansas: 30%+ cost burdened
34.5%
765,295 households surveyed
Arkansas: severely burdened (50%+)
15.2%
Paying at least half of income on housing.
Owner vs renter burden
Owner 30%+: 26.1%
Renter 30%+: 26.4%
Renters typically carry a heavier cost burden than owners with a fixed-rate mortgage.

Affordability by income bracket

Monthly 30% housing budget at each income vs the median owner cost in Garland County. Bars above the dashed line can absorb this county's typical ownership cost.

HUD area median income (4-person household) for Arkansas: $80,100. Income limits define 80% AMI at $64,100 and 50% AMI at $40,050.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Garland County?

Based on Census ACS, typical total annual cost in Garland County is around $5,429 ($452 per month), covering property tax, insurance estimate, utilities, and 1% maintenance. Your actual cost varies by home age, size, and location within the county.

What is the property tax in Garland County?

Median annual property tax is $876 on the county's median home value of $166,600 (Census ACS).

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Garland County?

On a monthly cash-flow basis, the typical owner-cost-with-mortgage in Garland County runs about 29% above the county's median rent. That comparison doesn't account for the opportunity cost on your down payment, maintenance reserve, transaction costs, or how long you plan to stay — use the calculator below to model your specific break-even year against your time horizon.

What is the flood risk in Garland County?

moderate historical flood-risk signal from FEMA NFIP: 47 claims (1.09 per 1,000 housing units), average claim $8,069. Bucket reflects claim density, not absolute claim count.

Data sources

Disclaimer. HomeRule is not a real estate agent, lender, appraiser, or financial advisor. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Actual costs vary significantly by property, location, and individual circumstances. Consult qualified professionals for personalized advice.