El Dorado is a small city of 17,606 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $46,869
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
El Dorado 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. Whether El Dorado is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All El Dorado 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: 87.5
El Dorado's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in El Dorado costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
El Dorado, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$110,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$780
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,869
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
El Dorado's violent crime rate is 1319.0 per 100,000 residents
— 247% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1319.0 /100k
Property Crime
3487.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
El Dorado is served primarily by EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
El Dorado, AR
National Avg
School District
EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
El Dorado sees average highs of 55.9°F in January
and 93.6°F in July,
with 52.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.8 inches of snow per year.
El Dorado's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes El Dorado roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $110,600 and median rent is $780/month.
El Dorado's violent crime rate is 1319.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3487.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in El Dorado are operated by EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
El Dorado, AR has a population of 17,606, a median household income of $46,869, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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.
El Dorado averages 55.9°F in January and 93.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.1 inches
with about 0.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
El Dorado, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71730.
The population of El Dorado, Arkansas is 17,606 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in El Dorado: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $110,600, median household income $46,869, crime index 275 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare El Dorado side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
