Median Income
$48,302
household / year
Median Home Value
$96,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$704
gross / month
Cost of Living
86
national avg = 100

Is Camden, AR a Good Place to Live?

Camden is a small city of 10,587 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $48,302 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Camden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Camden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Camden city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.0

Camden's overall cost of living index is 86.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Camden costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric Camden, AR National Avg
Median Home Value $96,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $704 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $48,302 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Camden's violent crime rate is 1087.3 per 100,000 residents — 186% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
1087.3 /100k
Property Crime
4049.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Camden is served primarily by CAMDEN FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Camden, AR National Avg
School District CAMDEN FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary Schools 2
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 85.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Camden sees average highs of 53.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July, with 53.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.5 inches of snow per year.

MetricCamden, AR
Average High — January53.3°F
Average High — July91.9°F
Annual Precipitation53.1"
Annual Snowfall1.5"

Demographics

MetricCamden, ARNational Avg
Population10,587
Median Age38.738.9
Unemployment Rate5.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time21.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)47.0%59.3%
Black or African American50.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.6%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1825.2%22.2%
65 and over20.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Camden

Camden, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Camden vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Camden's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Camden roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $96,700 and median rent is $704/month.
Camden's violent crime rate is 1087.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4049.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Camden are operated by CAMDEN FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Camden, AR has a population of 10,587, a median household income of $48,302, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Camden averages 53.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.1 inches with about 1.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Camden, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71701.
The population of Camden, Arkansas is 10,587 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Camden: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $96,700, median household income $48,302, crime index 249 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Camden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.