Malvern, AR vs Van Buren, AR

Malvern is moderately more affordable than Van Buren, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Malvern scores 61 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 Malvern is $760/month compared to $820/month in Van Buren — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Malvern is more affordable at $95,500 median vs $178,000.

Median household income in Malvern is $40,602 compared to $59,420 in Van Buren (-31.7%). 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 Malvern spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, more than the 16.6% in Van Buren.