This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Barling page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.
Affordability Summary
Population is 4,919, so Barling should be compared with similar-size places before using broader Arkansas averages. Median household income is $52,009, so the best affordability read for Barling is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.
Median home value is $125,200, so ownership costs in Barling should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $893/mo, so renters can compare Barling against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.
Housing and Income Context
For Barling, income is more constrained, so utilities, rent, and taxes deserve extra attention. Home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.
Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Barling looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Fort Smith, AR.
Utility Cost Context
The residential electricity benchmark is $0.136/kWh, so Barling households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Barling is a Arkansas state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.
For Barling, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.
Property Tax Context
Median property tax paid is $1,075, so Barling buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Barling address.
Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.
Insurance and Risk Context
Insurance costs in Barling depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.
Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Barling, especially when comparing with Fort Smith, AR.
Population and Demographics
Median age is 44.7, so Barling may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 20.5%, so Barling education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.
Unemployment is 4.3%, so Barling wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.
