Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Arkansas, you would:
Health
live 2.3 years longer
In Arkansas, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In North Carolina, that number is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020.
be 12.3% less likely to be obese
In Arkansas, 38.3% of adults are obese as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 33.6% of people as of 2022.
be 16.4% less likely to have diabetes
In Arkansas, 12.8% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 10.7% as of 2022.
Economy
make 25.3% more money
Arkansas has a GDP per capita of $47,319 as of 2024, while in North Carolina, the GDP per capita is $59,308 as of 2024.
be 19.0% less likely to be unemployed
In Arkansas, 4.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In North Carolina, that number is 3.4% as of 2025.
be 19.9% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Arkansas, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In North Carolina, however, that number is 12.1% as of 2023.
Safety
be 38.0% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Arkansas has a violent crime rate of 610 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 379 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 18.9% more money
The median household income in Arkansas is $58,773 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $69,904 as of 2023.
pay 48.0% more for a home
The median home value in Arkansas is $175,300 as of 2023, compared to $259,400 in North Carolina as of 2023.
pay 27.1% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Arkansas is $914 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $1,162 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 24.4% less likely to smoke
In Arkansas, 19.3% of adults smoke as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 14.6% as of 2022.
be 27.0% less likely to be physically inactive
In Arkansas, 30.4% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 22.2% as of 2022.
be 36.4% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Arkansas, 16.5% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 22.5% as of 2023.
be 45.5% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Arkansas, 3.3% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 4.8% as of 2023.
be 25.3% less likely to be food insecure
In Arkansas, 15.0% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In North Carolina, that number is 11.2% as of 2021.
commute 2.8 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Arkansas takes 22.3 minutes as of 2023. In North Carolina, it takes 25.1 minutes as of 2023.
be 11.6% more likely to be uninsured
In Arkansas, 8.6% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 3.8 times more densely populated
Arkansas has a population density of 22.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
