What are the schools like in Paragould, AR?

Paragould is served primarily by PARAGOULD SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Paragould?

The median household income in Paragould, AR is $54,732 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.5%.

What is the weather like in Paragould, AR?

Paragould has an average high temperature of 45.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Paragould, AR affordable or expensive?

Paragould's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paragould is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $170,700 and the median rent is $846 per month.

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

Paragould has a violent crime rate of 915.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2898.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paragould, AR a Good Place to Live?

Paragould is a small city of 29,690 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $54,732 and a 8.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Paragould 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, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Paragould is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paragould 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: 90.2

Paragould's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paragould costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paragould, AR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$170,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$846	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,732	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Paragould's violent crime rate is 915.2 per 100,000 residents — 141% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

915.2 /100k

Property Crime

2898.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paragould is served primarily by PARAGOULD SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paragould, AR	National Avg
School District	PARAGOULD SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paragould sees average highs of 45.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July, with 51.7 inches of annual precipitation and 2.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paragould, AR
Average High — January	45.7°F
Average High — July	89.8°F
Annual Precipitation	51.7"
Annual Snowfall	2.5"

Demographics

Metric	Paragould, AR	National Avg
Population	29,690	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oak Grove Heights, AR 5 mi Walcott, AR 9 mi Lafe, AR 11 mi Brookland, AR 11 mi Marmaduke, AR 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Paragould

Paragould, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

72450

Paragould vs Other Cities

Paragould, AR vs Oak Grove Heights, AR Paragould, AR vs Walcott, AR Paragould, AR vs Lafe, AR Paragould, AR vs Brookland, AR Paragould, AR vs Marmaduke, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paragould, AR affordable or expensive?

Paragould's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paragould roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $170,700 and median rent is $846/month.

What is the crime rate in Paragould, AR?

Paragould's violent crime rate is 915.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2898.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paragould?

Public schools in Paragould are operated by PARAGOULD SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paragould, AR a good place to live?

Paragould, AR has a population of 29,690, a median household income of $54,732, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%. 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 Paragould?

Paragould averages 45.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.7 inches with about 2.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paragould?

Paragould, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72450.

What is the population of Paragould?

The population of Paragould, Arkansas is 29,690 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paragould?

Key numbers for living in Paragould: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $170,700, median household income $54,732, crime index 200 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paragould side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.