Jonesboro AR vs Tempe AZ — 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

Tempe, AZ

Arizona · Population: 186,419

Median HH Income$77,643
Median Home Price$468,328
Unemployment5.7%
Bachelor's+49.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

186,419

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

29.9

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

13.9%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

60.1%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

7.8%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

9.5%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

23.1%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Population	N/A	186,419	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	29.9	-
Foreign Born	N/A	13.9%	-
White	N/A	60.1%	-
Black	N/A	7.8%	-
Asian	N/A	9.5%	-
Hispanic	N/A	23.1%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

$77,643

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

$42,371

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Tempe

$59,120

Tempe +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

5.7%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

16.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

49.5%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$77,643	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$42,371	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$59,120	Tempe +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	5.7%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	16.2%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	49.5%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Tempe

$468,328

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

41.6%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$468,328	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	41.6%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Tempe

450

Tempe +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Tempe

2150

Tempe +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	450	Tempe +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2150	Tempe +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Tempe

27.2%

Tempe +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Tempe

7.2%

Tempe +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Tempe

16.6%

Tempe +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Tempe

10.7%

Tempe +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Tempe

18.3%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Tempe

9.1%

Tempe +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	27.2%	Tempe +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	7.2%	Tempe +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	16.6%	Tempe +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	10.7%	Tempe +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	18.3%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	9.1%	Tempe +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Tempe

71.3°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Tempe

9.3 in

Tempe +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	71.3°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	9.3 in	Tempe +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Tempe

7.1 µg/m³

Tempe +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tempe

75.0%

Tempe +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	7.1 µg/m³	Tempe +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Tempe +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Tempe

23.2 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Tempe, AZ	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	23.2 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Tempe is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Tempe has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tempe scores better with a lower obesity rate of 27.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Tempe

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