Atlanta GA vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Atlanta, GA

Georgia · Population: 499,287

Median HH Income$81,938
Median Home Price$387,752
Unemployment5.9%
Bachelor's+58.4%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Atlanta

499,287

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Atlanta

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Atlanta

34.0

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Atlanta

8.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Atlanta

39.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Atlanta

46.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Atlanta

5.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Atlanta

6.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Atlanta

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	499,287	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.0	N/A	-
Foreign Born	8.6%	N/A	-
White	39.9%	N/A	-
Black	46.9%	N/A	-
Asian	5.0%	N/A	-
Hispanic	6.3%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Atlanta

$81,938

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Atlanta

$64,063

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Atlanta

$57,405

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Atlanta

5.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Atlanta

17.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Atlanta

58.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$81,938	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$64,063	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$57,405	$53,714	Atlanta +
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	17.9%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	58.4%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Atlanta

$387,752

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Atlanta

46.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$387,752	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	46.3%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Atlanta

392

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Atlanta

1752

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	392	660	Atlanta +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1752	2507	Atlanta +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Atlanta

29.3%

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Atlanta

10.6%

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

11.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Atlanta

17.2%

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Atlanta

11.3%

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

11.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Atlanta

17.2%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Atlanta

11.1%

Atlanta +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	29.3%	39.2%	Atlanta +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	10.6%	11.4%	Atlanta +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.2%	20.5%	Atlanta +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.3%	11.6%	Atlanta +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	17.2%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	11.1%	15.7%	Atlanta +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Atlanta

N/A

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Atlanta

51.5 in

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	59.2°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	51.5 in	48.2 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Atlanta

9.8 µg/m³

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Jonesboro +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Atlanta

55.0%

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.8 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Jonesboro +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Atlanta

28.7 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Atlanta, GA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	28.7 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Atlanta is safer with a violent crime rate of 392 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Jonesboro has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Atlanta scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.3%.

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About Atlanta & Jonesboro

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