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: 89.1Carlisle'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 AverageCarlisle's violent crime rate is 348.8 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
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.
| Metric | Carlisle, AR |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 48.9°F |
| Average High — July | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | Carlisle, AR | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,329 | — |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 81.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 13.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.5% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 22.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Carlisle
Carlisle, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: