Is Jefferson County, AR good for real estate investing?

Jefferson County has an investment score of 74/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #74 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Jefferson?

The rent-to-price ratio in Jefferson County is 12.64% annually, which ranks in the 99th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Jefferson?

The median home price in Jefferson County is $85,670. This ranks #19 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Jefferson?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Jefferson County would generate positive cash flow of $138/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Jefferson County

ArkansasPopulation: 66,934

/100

Buy

#74 of 1,000 counties

#1 in Arkansas (74 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 31, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$85,670

Median Home Price

63% below national median

$903/mo

Median Rent

38% below national median

12.64%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 1% nationally

+$138

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $903/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$64,253	+$250/mo	11.0%	+20.3%
Median typical MLS deal	$85,670	+$138/mo	8.2%	+8.4%
125% of median newer / premium	$107,088	+$25/mo	6.6%	+1.2%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$85,670

Down Payment (20%)$17,134

Loan Amount$68,536

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$903

Monthly P&I-$449

Est. Expenses (35%)-$316

Net Cash Flow+$138/mo

8.2%

Cap Rate (all cash)

8.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

12.64%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

74/100

Cash Flow(30%)

100/100

Based on 12.64% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

45/100

Based on -1.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

100/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (12.64%)
+Positive cash flow potential (+$138/mo)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-1.1% YoY)

Economic Indicators

Population

66,934

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Cash-flow buyers: the deal pencils at typical financing
+First-time investors looking for lower-risk markets

Skip if

−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentJeffersonAR	74	$85,670	$903	12.64%	Buy
PrairieAR	74	$149,082	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
GrantAR	74	$206,491	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
ScottAR	73	$152,008	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
PerryAR	71	$182,366	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
IndependenceAR	71	$178,977	$881	5.91%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyJefferson offers solid investment potential with positive cash flow at typical financing.

Jefferson County in Arkansas scores 74/100, ranking #74 of 1,000 US counties (top 9%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental clears about $138/month in cash flow, backed by a 12.64% gross rent-to-price ratio.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$138/mo

Cap Rate

8.2%

Cash-on-Cash

8.4%