Hot Springs and Russellville receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Hot Springs | Russellville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,920 | 29,162 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,760 | $50,877 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,704 | $27,697 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,010/sq mi | 1,030/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $165,500 | $172,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $914 | $842 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.0% | 55.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 28.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | 20.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 315 | 50 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.3 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 228.1% | 72.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.9" | 46.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 64 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 17.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.3 | 30.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.94 | 13.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 70.1% | 66.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hot Springs
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, earthquake.
Russellville
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hot Springs, AR · Russellville, AR · How this is calculated: methodology