Russell is a small town of 289 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $22,895
and a 7.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 79 (US average = 100), which is
21% below the national average.
Strengths:
Russell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Russell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Russell 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: 78.8
Russell's overall cost of living index is 78.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Russell costs roughly 21% less than the average American city.
Metric
Russell, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$69,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$354
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$22,895
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Russell's violent crime rate is 598.1 per 100,000 residents
— 57% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
598.1 /100k
Property Crime
1674.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Russell, AR
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
4.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Russell sees average highs of 49.1°F in January
and 93.0°F in July,
with 49.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Russell's cost of living index is 79, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Russell roughly 21% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $69,000 and median rent is $354/month.
Russell's violent crime rate is 598.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1674.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Russell, AR has a population of 289, a median household income of $22,895, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%.
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.
Russell averages 49.1°F in January and 93.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.2 inches
with about 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Russell, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72139.
The population of Russell, Arkansas is 289 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Russell: cost of living index 79 (100 = US average), median home $69,000, median household income $22,895, crime index 126 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Russell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.