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Elkins vs Highfill

24 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+136.2 pts in Highfill) and street grid (3.1× in Elkins).

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Elkins, ARKnown for its schoolsArkansas · 3,808 people
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Highfill, ARKnown for its schoolsArkansas · 2,191 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

ElkinsKnown for its schools
Schools#48 for schools in ARof 113 towns Housing$287K typical home26% above the AR typical home HealthHealthier than 67%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Elkins →
HighfillKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 95%of AR districts SafetySafer than 83%of U.S. towns we grade HealthHealthier than 72%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Highfill →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+136.2 pts
Highfill has grown faster since 2010
Highfill +172.2%Elkins +36%
Street grid3.1×
Elkins has the more walkable street grid
Elkins 31.8Highfill 10.2
Property tax bill+62%
Tax bills are bigger in Highfill
Highfill $1,972Elkins $1,220
Home values+29%
Homes cost more in Highfill
Highfill $274,300Elkins $212,500
Jobs per worker+68%
Highfill is more of a job hub
Highfill 0.84Elkins 0.50
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Arkansas ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C+ElkinsSafer than 44% of U.S. towns A−HighfillSafer than 83% of U.S. towns
Schools
AElkinsBetter than 88% of districts in the state A+HighfillBetter than 95% of districts in the state
Health
B+ElkinsHealthier than 67% of U.S. towns B+HighfillHealthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Elkins$1,640/mo
Typical home $287K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.57% · or rent about $1,431/mo · Housing →
Highfill$1,600/mo
Typical home $274K (Census) · tax rate 0.72% · or rent about $1,423/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
ElkinsHighfill
Snow a year7″10″
January low25°F24°F
July high89°F89°F
Growing season (days)188d195d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)80th49th
Outdoors & history
ElkinsHighfill
Trails1 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.3%0.7%
Settled1964—
National Register places32
Archive photos95
Famous people born here1—
Community
ElkinsHighfill
Library hours a week52 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

24 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ElkinsHighfillElkinsHighfill
Elkins ↔ Highfill24 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

ElkinsHighfill
People
Population 3,808Highest 2,191Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +36%Lowest AR: +3.3% +172.2%Highest AR: +3.3%
Median age 33.8±3.9Highest 12% below AR 29.8±2.2Lowest 23% below AR
Elkins and Highfill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.9%±5.6Lowest AR: 23.1% 31.9%±6.8Highest AR: 23.1%
Highfill and Elkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15.2%±4.2Highest AR: 17.6% 9.9%±3.1Lowest AR: 17.6%
Elkins and Highfill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.7%Lowest AR: 25.7% 22.9%Highest AR: 25.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.3%±1.3Lowest AR: 5.1% 3.5%±2.9Highest AR: 5.1%
Highfill and Elkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $81,789±$16kLowest 35% above AR $92,596±$25kHighest 52% above AR
Highfill and Elkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $212,500±$22kLowest 13% above AR $274,300±$36kHighest 46% above AR
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,431±$138Highest 51% above AR $1,423±$114Lowest 50% above AR
Elkins and Highfill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,220Lowest 17% above AR $1,972Highest 90% above AR
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 25%±24.2Lowest AR: 44.8% 50%±40Highest AR: 44.8%
Highfill and Elkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.5%Highest AR: 16% 4.2%Lowest AR: 16%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85.3%Highest AR: 66.4% 79.9%Lowest AR: 66.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 2004Lowest 17 yrs newer than AR 2014Highest 27 yrs newer than AR
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minHighest 16% above AR 26 minLowest 14% above AR
Work from home 10.8%±5.8Lowest AR: 8.8% 18.4%±8Highest AR: 8.8%
Highfill and Elkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.9%Highest 1.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.3 miHighest 10.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.50Lowest 0.84Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Fayetteville (41%)Bentonville (31%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HighfillFew work in Elkins
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 0.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.5 mi 0.5 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 31.8Highest 10.2Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #48 of 113 in AR—
School district ELKINS SCHOOL DISTRICTHOPE ACADEMY OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
High school in town Elkins High SchoolNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 8.3 —
Arkansas average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Elkins neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elkins’s Town Square.

Highfill neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Highfill’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Elkins and Highfill

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Elkins

+ Compare
Fayetteville99,319 people · $350K homes

Towns like Elkins

A
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Alexander3,587 people · $174K homes
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West Fork3,095 people · $201K homes
H
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Haskell4,100 people · $161K homes
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Pottsville3,229 people · $172K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Arkansas towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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