Rent vs buy in Jonesboro, AR
Jonesboro, Arkansas, has a typical rent of $1,243 /mo and a typical home price of $226,988.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $8k.
Based on Jonesboro's typical rent and home value, this uses 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point arrives in year 10.
Clearly labeled opinion. The math is shown. Estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number and the stamp updates.
- Renting's lead
- $8k after 7 years
- When costs break even
- year 10 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $1,972 /mo year 1, against $1,243 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp draws on Jonesboro's own typical rent and home value. It can flip with your rent, price and number of years.
Do your numbers differ from the city's?
Enter the rent, price and down payment you want to use. The stamp changes when those numbers change.
Would you pay less to rent or buy in Jonesboro?
Across 7 years, renting costs $8,360 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 9 years, renting remains cheaper. By year 10, owning has caught up.
Renting. Owning. Your net cost to date, by year.
Comparing average rent and mortgage payments in Jonesboro
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all the monthly costs in year 1, using Jonesboro's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,243 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,238 | $1,091 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $106 | 0.56% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $123 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $189 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,656 | $147 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $369 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $95 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $1,972 | Cash paid out, minus the equity share, plus the two lines above |
The figures behind Jonesboro's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $226,988
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,243 /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, Jonesboro
- 0.56% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Jonesboro
- $123 /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
In Jonesboro, what would flip it?
For Jonesboro, each line shows where the 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors stay the same.
When renting comes out ahead
- Home prices increase by under 4.3% yearly, based on our use of 3.8%, Arkansas's long-run rate.
- A mortgage rate above 6.59% remains in place.
- A similar home rents for under $1,330 a month (the typical local rent is $1,243).
- You move out before year 10.
When buying comes out ahead
- Prices for homes rise by more than 4.3% each year.
- You lock the mortgage rate below 6.59% (right now it's 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $1,330 a month to rent.
- You remain there for 10 years or longer.
How Jonesboro compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Jonesboro | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $226,988 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,243 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.2 (#615 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.56% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 46% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Arkansas
- In Little Rock, AR, renting wins by $15k.
- In Fayetteville, AR, renting wins by $54k.
- In Fort Smith, AR, renting wins by $9k.
- In Springdale, AR, renting wins by $46k.
- In Rogers, AR, renting wins by $59k.
- In Conway, AR, renting wins by $13k.
- Buy. Buying wins by $7k in North Little Rock, AR.
- In Bentonville, AR, renting wins by $109k.