Helena-West Helena, AR vs Van Buren, AR

Helena-West Helena is moderately more affordable than Van Buren, with a 12.9% lower cost of living index. Helena-West Helena scores 60 compared to 69 for Van Buren, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Van Buren can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Helena-West Helena is $774/month compared to $820/month in Van Buren — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Helena-West Helena is more affordable at $72,300 median vs $178,000.

Median household income in Helena-West Helena is $32,466 compared to $59,420 in Van Buren (-45.4%). While Van Buren is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Helena-West Helena spend roughly 28.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.6% in Van Buren.