Shirley is a small town of 281 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $48,750
and a 2.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shirley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Shirley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shirley 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: 86.7
Shirley's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shirley costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shirley, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$120,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shirley's violent crime rate is 229.7 per 100,000 residents
— 40% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
229.7 /100k
Property Crime
1178.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shirley is served primarily by SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shirley, AR
National Avg
School District
SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shirley sees average highs of 47.6°F in January
and 91.1°F in July,
with 55.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.8 inches of snow per year.
Shirley's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shirley roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $120,000 and median rent is $675/month.
Shirley's violent crime rate is 229.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1178.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shirley are operated by SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1. 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shirley, AR has a population of 281, a median household income of $48,750, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%.
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.
Shirley averages 47.6°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.9 inches
with about 2.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shirley, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72153.
The population of Shirley, Arkansas is 281 with a median age of 47.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shirley: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $120,000, median household income $48,750, 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 Shirley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.