Jonesboro AR vs Knoxville TN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

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

Knoxville, TN

Tennessee · Population: 193,721

Median HH Income$50,994
Median Home Price$371,202
Unemployment4.4%
Bachelor's+33.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

193,721

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

33.3

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

7.0%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

72.2%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

15.7%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

1.6%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

7.5%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Population	N/A	193,721	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	33.3	-
Foreign Born	N/A	7.0%	-
White	N/A	72.2%	-
Black	N/A	15.7%	-
Asian	N/A	1.6%	-
Hispanic	N/A	7.5%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

$50,994

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

$33,171

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Knoxville

$59,097

Knoxville +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

4.4%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

20.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

33.7%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$50,994	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$33,171	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$59,097	Knoxville +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	4.4%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	20.5%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	33.7%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

$371,202

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

46.6%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$371,202	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	46.6%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Knoxville

639

Knoxville +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Knoxville

2350

Knoxville +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	639	Knoxville +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2350	Knoxville +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Knoxville

36.0%

Knoxville +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

12.6%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

22.0%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

12.9%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

15.8%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

17.8%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	36.0%	Knoxville +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	12.6%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	22.0%	Jonesboro +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	12.9%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.8%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	17.8%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Knoxville

57.8°F

Knoxville +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Knoxville

51.9 in

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	57.8°F	Knoxville +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	51.9 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Knoxville

8.9 µg/m³

Knoxville +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Knoxville

75.0%

Knoxville +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.9 µg/m³	Knoxville +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Knoxville +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Knoxville

22.0 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Knoxville, TN	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	22.0 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Knoxville is safer with a violent crime rate of 639 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Knoxville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Knoxville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.0%.

Compare More Cities

Jonesboro, AR vs New York, NY Jonesboro, AR vs Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL vs Jonesboro, AR Houston, TX vs Jonesboro, AR Jonesboro, AR vs Phoenix, AZ Jonesboro, AR vs Philadelphia, PA

About Jonesboro & Knoxville

View Jonesboro AR Profile →View Knoxville TN Profile →