Median Income
$35,769
household / year
Median Home Value
$114,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$676
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is Carlisle, AR a Good Place to Live?

Carlisle is a small town of 2,329 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $35,769 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carlisle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carlisle 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: 89.1

Carlisle's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carlisle costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric Carlisle, AR National Avg
Median Home Value $114,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $676 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 76.3% 65.9%
Median Household Income $35,769 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Carlisle's violent crime rate is 348.8 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
348.8 /100k
Property Crime
2690.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Carlisle is served primarily by CARLISLE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Carlisle, AR National Avg
School District CARLISLE SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 9.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carlisle sees average highs of 48.9°F in January and 92.0°F in July, with 53.5 inches of annual precipitation and 2.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricCarlisle, AR
Average High — January48.9°F
Average High — July92.0°F
Annual Precipitation53.5"
Annual Snowfall2.3"

Demographics

MetricCarlisle, ARNational Avg
Population2,329—
Median Age42.038.9
Unemployment Rate6.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)81.3%59.3%
Black or African American13.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.5%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1827.2%22.2%
65 and over22.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Carlisle

Carlisle, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Carlisle vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Carlisle's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carlisle roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $114,400 and median rent is $676/month.
Carlisle's violent crime rate is 348.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2690.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carlisle are operated by CARLISLE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 13.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carlisle, AR has a population of 2,329, a median household income of $35,769, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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.
Carlisle averages 48.9°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.5 inches with about 2.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carlisle, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72024.
The population of Carlisle, Arkansas is 2,329 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carlisle: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $114,400, median household income $35,769, crime index 106 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlisle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.