Cost to Own
United States › Arkansas › Crawford County › Alma Population 5,879 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $644 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Crawford County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Alma, Arkansas

A $197,000 home here costs

$1,718

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $73,500 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 7%Insurance 9%Utilities 13%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,074. The real number is $644 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Crawford County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Alma median: $197,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
AR average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $157,600 borrowed $1,074
Property tax0.693% effective rate for Alma itself $114
Homeowners insuranceArkansas averages $1,611/yr (NAIC), or 0.896% of home value $147
Electricity14.37ยข/kWh, Arkansas residential average, EIA $151
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $164
Total monthly $1,718

Alma against Crawford County and Arkansas

MeasureAlmaCrawford County
Median home value$197,200$170,000
Median property tax$1,367$904
Effective tax rate0.693%0.532%
Median gross rent$992$828
Population5,87960,792

The weather behind that power bill

Alma sits in Crawford County, which averages a high of 91.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 25.8°F in its coldest, with 53.42" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,586 cooling and 3,733 heating degree days, which is what sets the $151 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Crawford County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Crawford County

Full Crawford County cost breakdown · Every county in Arkansas

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Alma averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Alma every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Alma I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Alma?

A $197,000 home in Alma, Arkansas costs approximately $1,718 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,074 principal and interest, $114 property tax, $147 homeowners insurance, $219 utilities and $164 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Alma?

Alma has an effective property tax rate of 0.693%, based on a median home value of $197,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,367. That is higher than the Crawford County average of 0.532%.

What is the average home price in Alma?

The median owner-occupied home value in Alma, Arkansas is $197,200, against $170,000 across Crawford County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Alma?

Median gross rent in Alma is $992 a month, against $1,718 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Alma?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Alma, Arkansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $73,500 a year. That covers the full $1,718 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Alma, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Arkansas.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology