Median Income
$49,063
household / year
Median Home Value
$107,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$776
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100

Is Southside, AR a Good Place to Live?

Southside is a small town of 4,247 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $49,063 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Southside stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Southside is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Southside 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: 87.3

Southside's overall cost of living index is 87.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Southside costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric Southside, AR National Avg
Median Home Value $107,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $776 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 71.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $49,063 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Southside's violent crime rate is 481.2 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
481.2 /100k
Property Crime
1538.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Southside is served primarily by SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Independence). The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Southside, AR National Avg
School District SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Independence) —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 85.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Southside sees average highs of 47.9°F in January and 90.7°F in July, with 50.8 inches of annual precipitation and 2.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricSouthside, AR
Average High — January47.9°F
Average High — July90.7°F
Annual Precipitation50.8"
Annual Snowfall2.2"

Demographics

MetricSouthside, ARNational Avg
Population4,247—
Median Age34.438.9
Unemployment Rate6.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time17.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)80.2%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.8%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1829.7%22.2%
65 and over15.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Salado, AR 3 mi Desha, AR 3 mi Batesville, AR 3 mi Moorefield, AR 5 mi Sulphur Rock, AR 8 mi

Southside vs Other Cities

Southside, AR vs Salado, AR Southside, AR vs Desha, AR Southside, AR vs Batesville, AR Southside, AR vs Moorefield, AR Southside, AR vs Sulphur Rock, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Southside's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Southside roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $107,700 and median rent is $776/month.
Southside's violent crime rate is 481.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1538.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Southside are operated by SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Independence). The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Southside, AR has a population of 4,247, a median household income of $49,063, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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.
Southside averages 47.9°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.8 inches with about 2.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Southside, Arkansas is 4,247 with a median age of 34.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Southside: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $107,700, median household income $49,063, crime index 105 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Southside side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.