Compare states / Arkansas
AR
Compare Arkansas with other states
Arkansas is a mid-sized Southern state: about 3.1 million residents, the 33rd-largest population, at 60 people per square mile. It taxes wages, but its top rate of 3.9% is the 9th-lowest among the 41 states that do; its average combined sales tax of 9.46% is tied for the 4th-highest among the 50 states. Homes cost less than in most places, with a median value of $225,790 (the 5th-lowest nationally). Its reported violent-crime rate, 579 per 100,000 residents, is the 4th-highest in the country.
Data: Arkansas (dfa.arkansas.gov, ark.org); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Top listed rate 3.9% |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 9.46% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.56% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | County personal property tax on vehicles, about 1.02% |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed. The state exempts Social Security benefits from income tax. |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $11.00 for employers with 4 or more employees. |
| Median home value | $225,790 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 6.50% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $10.00 |
| Registration (base) | $17.00 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 52 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 1 |
| Population | 3,133,502 |
| Population density | 60.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 70.2% White (non-Hispanic) 8.5% Hispanic 16.0% Black 1.7% Asian |
| Violent crime | 579.4 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Arkansas
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 3.9%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Arkansas
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 6.50% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Arkansas
- Get an AR driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Arkansas.
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Arkansas elections site.
- Nurse license: Arkansas is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Arkansas: August 1. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Arkansas compares
Top listed income-tax rate: 3.9% in Arkansas vs 13.3% in California (lower in Arkansas).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Arkansas are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits (AR tax agency).
- Estate tax. Arkansas has no state estate tax (AR tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Arkansas has no state inheritance tax (AR tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Arkansas $11.00.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Arkansas 6.50%.
- State parks. Arkansas 52. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; AR 1).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (AR).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Arkansas 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Arkansas 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled