Median Income
$68,108
household / year
Median Home Value
$147,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$998
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is West Fork, AR a Good Place to Live?

West Fork is a small town of 3,054 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $68,108 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: West Fork stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether West Fork is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All West Fork 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: 91.0

West Fork's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Fork costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric West Fork, AR National Avg
Median Home Value $147,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $998 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 79.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $68,108 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

West Fork's violent crime rate is 42.3 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
42.3 /100k
Property Crime
762.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

West Fork is served primarily by WEST FORK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric West Fork, AR National Avg
School District WEST FORK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary Schools 1
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 5.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 91.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

West Fork sees average highs of 47.7°F in January and 89.2°F in July, with 47.0 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

MetricWest Fork, AR
Average High — January47.7°F
Average High — July89.2°F
Annual Precipitation47.0"
Annual Snowfall6.5"

Demographics

MetricWest Fork, ARNational Avg
Population3,054
Median Age38.838.9
Unemployment Rate2.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time24.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)84.0%59.3%
Black or African American1.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.5%18.9%
Asian0.7%6.3%
Under 1823.7%22.2%
65 and over15.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in West Fork

West Fork, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

West Fork vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

West Fork's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes West Fork roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $147,900 and median rent is $998/month.
West Fork's violent crime rate is 42.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 762.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Fork are operated by WEST FORK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.7:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Fork, AR has a population of 3,054, a median household income of $68,108, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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.
West Fork averages 47.7°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.0 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
West Fork, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72774.
The population of West Fork, Arkansas is 3,054 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Fork: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $147,900, median household income $68,108, crime index 21 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West Fork side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.