Jonesboro AR vs Palmdale CA — 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

Palmdale, CA

California · Population: 44,998

Median HH Income$71,979
Median Home Price$503,393
Unemployment8.2%
Bachelor's+45.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

44,998

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

57.8

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

17.2%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

69.3%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

5.4%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

4.5%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

24.3%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Population	N/A	44,998	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	57.8	-
Foreign Born	N/A	17.2%	-
White	N/A	69.3%	-
Black	N/A	5.4%	-
Asian	N/A	4.5%	-
Hispanic	N/A	24.3%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

$71,979

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

$64,811

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Palmdale

$77,230

Palmdale +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

8.2%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

13.7%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

45.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$71,979	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$64,811	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$77,230	Palmdale +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	8.2%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	13.7%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	45.1%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Palmdale

$503,393

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

65.0%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$503,393	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	65.0%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Palmdale

503

Palmdale +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Palmdale

2388

Palmdale +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	503	Palmdale +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2388	Palmdale +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Palmdale

30.3%

Palmdale +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Palmdale

12.8%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Palmdale

18.6%

Palmdale +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Palmdale

15.7%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Palmdale

15.8%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Palmdale

13.1%

Palmdale +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	30.3%	Palmdale +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	12.8%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	18.6%	Palmdale +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	15.7%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.8%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	13.1%	Palmdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Palmdale

63.5°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Palmdale

7.4 in

Palmdale +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	63.5°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	7.4 in	Palmdale +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Palmdale

7.9 µg/m³

Palmdale +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Palmdale

75.0%

Palmdale +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	7.9 µg/m³	Palmdale +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Palmdale +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Palmdale

24.1 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Palmdale, CA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	24.1 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Palmdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Palmdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Palmdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

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About Jonesboro & Palmdale

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