What are the schools like in Cotter, AR?

Cotter is served primarily by COTTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.2:1.

What is the median household income in Cotter?

The median household income in Cotter, AR is $35,221 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Cotter, AR?

Cotter has an average high temperature of 46.4°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 7.8 inches.

Cotter, AR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Cotter, AR affordable or expensive?

Cotter's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cotter is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $152,700 and the median rent is $563 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Cotter, AR?

Cotter has a violent crime rate of 207.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 311.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cotter, AR a Good Place to Live?

Cotter is a small town of 1,004 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $35,221 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cotter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cotter 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: 86.4

Cotter's overall cost of living index is 86.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cotter costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cotter, AR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$152,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$563	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,221	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cotter's violent crime rate is 207.7 per 100,000 residents — 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

207.7 /100k

Property Crime

311.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cotter is served primarily by COTTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cotter, AR	National Avg
School District	COTTER SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cotter sees average highs of 46.4°F in January and 89.7°F in July, with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation and 7.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cotter, AR
Average High — January	46.4°F
Average High — July	89.7°F
Annual Precipitation	41.2"
Annual Snowfall	7.8"

Demographics

Metric	Cotter, AR	National Avg
Population	1,004	—
Median Age	63.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	8.2%	22.2%
65 and over	36.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gassville, AR 2 mi Flippin, AR 4 mi Lakeview, AR 6 mi Bull Shoals, AR 7 mi Midway, AR 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Cotter

Cotter, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

72626

Cotter vs Other Cities

Cotter, AR vs Gassville, AR Cotter, AR vs Flippin, AR Cotter, AR vs Lakeview, AR Cotter, AR vs Bull Shoals, AR Cotter, AR vs Midway, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cotter, AR affordable or expensive?

Cotter's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cotter roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $152,700 and median rent is $563/month.

What is the crime rate in Cotter, AR?

Cotter's violent crime rate is 207.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 311.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cotter?

Public schools in Cotter are operated by COTTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.2:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cotter, AR a good place to live?

Cotter, AR has a population of 1,004, a median household income of $35,221, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Cotter?

Cotter averages 46.4°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches with about 7.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cotter?

Cotter, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72626.

What is the population of Cotter?

The population of Cotter, Arkansas is 1,004 with a median age of 63.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cotter?

Key numbers for living in Cotter: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $152,700, median household income $35,221, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cotter side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.