Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Carolina instead of Arkansas, you would:
Health
live 1.0 years longer
In Arkansas, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In South Carolina, that number is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020.
be 14.1% less likely to have diabetes
In Arkansas, 12.8% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In South Carolina, that number is 11.0% as of 2022.
Economy
be 14.6% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Arkansas, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In South Carolina, however, that number is 12.9% as of 2023.
be 16.7% more likely to be unemployed
In Arkansas, 4.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In South Carolina, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.
Safety
be 25.6% 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 South Carolina, that number is 454 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 13.7% more money
The median household income in Arkansas is $58,773 as of 2023, while in South Carolina, it is $66,818 as of 2023.
pay 35.0% more for a home
The median home value in Arkansas is $175,300 as of 2023, compared to $236,700 in South Carolina as of 2023.
pay 23.2% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Arkansas is $914 as of 2023, while in South Carolina, it is $1,126 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 18.7% less likely to smoke
In Arkansas, 19.3% of adults smoke as of 2022. In South Carolina, that number is 15.7% as of 2022.
be 19.1% less likely to be physically inactive
In Arkansas, 30.4% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In South Carolina, that number is 24.6% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 1.7 years older on average
The median age in Arkansas is 38.4 years as of 2023. In South Carolina, the median age is 40.1 years as of 2023.
be 23.6% 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 South Carolina, that number is 20.4% as of 2023.
be 38.0% less likely to be food insecure
In Arkansas, 15.0% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In South Carolina, that number is 9.3% as of 2021.
commute 3.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Arkansas takes 22.3 minutes as of 2023. In South Carolina, it takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 3.0 times more densely populated
Arkansas has a population density of 22.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In South Carolina, that number is 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 12.1% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Arkansas, 3.3% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In South Carolina, that number is 2.9% 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), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
