Donaldson is a small town of 387 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $46,250
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Donaldson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Donaldson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Donaldson 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: 84.4
Donaldson's overall cost of living index is 84.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Donaldson costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Donaldson, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$54,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$826
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Donaldson's violent crime rate is 245.8 per 100,000 residents
— 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
245.8 /100k
Property Crime
1051.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Donaldson is served primarily by OUACHITA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Donaldson, AR
National Avg
School District
OUACHITA SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Donaldson sees average highs of 52.6°F in January
and 93.3°F in July,
with 52.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Donaldson's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Donaldson roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $54,700 and median rent is $826/month.
Donaldson's violent crime rate is 245.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1051.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Donaldson are operated by OUACHITA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.4:1. 7.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Donaldson, AR has a population of 387, a median household income of $46,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Donaldson averages 52.6°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.9 inches
with about 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Donaldson, Arkansas is 387 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Donaldson: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $54,700, median household income $46,250, crime index 59 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Donaldson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
