Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Arkansas instead of South Carolina, you would:
Health
live 1.0 years less
In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Arkansas, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020.
be 16.4% more likely to have diabetes
In South Carolina, 11.0% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Arkansas, that number is 12.8% as of 2022.
Economy
be 14.3% less likely to be unemployed
In South Carolina, 4.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Arkansas, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
be 17.1% more likely to live below the poverty line
In South Carolina, 12.9% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Arkansas, however, that number is 15.1% as of 2023.
Safety
be 34.4% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Carolina has a violent crime rate of 454 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Arkansas, that number is 610 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 25.9% less for a home
The median home value in South Carolina is $236,700 as of 2023, compared to $175,300 in Arkansas as of 2023.
pay 18.8% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Carolina is $1,126 as of 2023, while in Arkansas, it is $914 as of 2023.
earn 12.0% less money
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 as of 2023, while in Arkansas, it is $58,773 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 3.3 minutes less
The average one-way commute in South Carolina takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In Arkansas, it takes 22.3 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 67.0% less densely populated
South Carolina has a population density of 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023. In Arkansas, that number is 22.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 13.8% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Carolina, 2.9% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Arkansas, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 22.9% more likely to smoke
In South Carolina, 15.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Arkansas, that number is 19.3% as of 2022.
be 23.6% more likely to be physically inactive
In South Carolina, 24.6% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Arkansas, that number is 30.4% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 1.7 years older on average
The median age in South Carolina is 40.1 years as of 2023. In Arkansas, the median age is 38.4 years as of 2023.
be 19.1% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Carolina, 20.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Arkansas, that number is 16.5% as of 2023.
be 61.3% more likely to be food insecure
In South Carolina, 9.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Arkansas, that number is 15.0% as of 2021.
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.
