Relocation profile · Federal data
Hot Springs, AR
BEA RPP 85.7 ranks #15 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 85.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,090
- 2BR rent / mo
- $51,849
- Median salary
- 55.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Hot Springs ranks #127 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (55.1/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.
- #127
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 3,088,354
- metro-area population
- 580
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,069
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Hot Springs ranks #127 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 85.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,090/mo, median salary $51,849; LiveAbility Score 55.1/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.
Signature: BEA RPP 85.7 ranks #15 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 85.7 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,090/mo.
LiveAbility 55.1/100 puts Hot Springs in the top third (#127 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Hot Springs area is 33,280.
Hot Springs vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
55 Top 34% higher than 66% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Hot Springs housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Hot Springs MSA; housing RPP 57.3 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,090/mo.
Hot Springs wages and employment
Hot Springs posts 33,280 total employment with median salary $51,849 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $27,890 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,350 |
| Registered Nurses | $78,590 |
| Cashiers | $27,840 |
| General and Operations Managers | $62,810 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Hot Springs area from NCES.
Life Score Breakdown
Hot Springs's composite Life Score is 47.6/100 (D), computed across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized).
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Hot Springs ranks #127 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 55.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Hot Springs - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
96 /100
- Housing
Housing
84 /100
- Schools
Schools
80 /100
- Climate
Climate
77 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
65 /100
- Air quality 22
Air quality
22 /100
- Safety 5
Safety
5 /100
- Job market 1
Job market
1 /100
What this shows Hot Springs's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Hot Springs to
Metros near Hot Springs on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Hot Springs on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Hot Springs cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Hot Springs wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Hot Springs?
Hot Springs runs a $51,849 median salary at a 85.7 cost index, ranking #127 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Hot Springs's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Hot Springs head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Hot Springs
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.