Rent vs buy in Conway, AR
In Conway, Arkansas, the typical rent is $1,314 /mo and the typical home value is $250,256.
Renting saves you $13k over 7 years
The calculation assumes 20% down, applies today's mortgage rate and uses Conway's usual rent and home value. You reach the break-even point in year 11.
Clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Change any number, and the stamp changes with it.
- Renting is ahead by
- $13k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 11 when owning catches up
- Full cost of home ownership
- $2,154 /mo year 1, against $1,314 rent
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Conway's typical rent and home value are what the stamp uses. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.
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Which costs less in Conway, renting or buying?
After counting the money you get back when you sell, renting costs $12,810 less over 7 years. For the first 10 years, renting costs less. In year 11, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost up to each year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Conway
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Conway's typical price, these are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,314 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,364 | $1,203 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $121 | 0.58% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $111 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $209 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,805 | $162 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $407 | Annual return on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $104 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,154 | Cash out less its equity part, with the two lines above added |
Conway results by the numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $250,256
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,314 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Arkansas, 1995 to 2025
- 3.8% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Conway
- 0.58% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Conway
- $111 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would make the Conway verdict go the other way?
Every line marks where Conway's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors stay the same.
When renting wins
- For home prices rising by less than 4.4% each year, we use a 3.8% annual rate based on Arkansas's long-term trend.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.33%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this is under $1,450 (typical here: $1,314).
- You change homes before year 11.
When buying wins
- Home values increase by more than 4.4% each year.
- You fix your mortgage rate below 6.33%, while today's rate is 7.24%.
- The same home would cost more than $1,450 a month to rent.
- Your stay lasts 11 years or more.
Conway compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Conway | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $250,256 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,314 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.9 (#568 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.58% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 55% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities elsewhere in Arkansas
- Rent. Little Rock, AR. Rent wins by $15k.
- Rent. Fayetteville, AR. Rent wins by $54k.
- Rent. Fort Smith, AR. Rent wins by $9k.
- Rent. Springdale, AR. Rent wins by $46k.
- Rent. Jonesboro, AR. Rent wins by $8k.
- Rent. Rogers, AR. The difference is $59k in renting's favor.
- Buy. North Little Rock, AR. Buying is ahead by $7k.
- Rent. Bentonville, AR. Renting is ahead by $109k.