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.

Down paymentRate%

Madison$650/mo

Typical home $120K (Census) · tax rate 0.22% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →

Desha$790/mo

Typical home $118K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $632/mo · Housing →

The difference: $140 a month, about $1,700 a year, between Desha and Madison.

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

MadisonDesha

Snow a year2″2″

January low—28°F

July high—91°F

Growing season (days)—221d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)69th 77th

Outdoors & history

MadisonDesha

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0%—

National Register places2 1

Archive photos20 —

Community

MadisonDesha

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

73 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MadisonAR DeshaAR

Madison ↔ Desha73 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.

Only big differences vs Arkansas average

MadisonDesha

People

Population 476Lowest 679Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.3% AR: +3.3% —

Median age 56.6±8.3Lowest 47% above AR 60±8.4Highest 56% above AR

Desha and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 10.1%±8.6Highest AR: 23.1% 6.8%±8.3Lowest AR: 23.1%

Madison and Desha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 33.4%±6.2Lowest AR: 17.6% 36.8%±16.5Highest AR: 17.6%

Desha and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22%Highest AR: 25.7% 16.9%Lowest AR: 25.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.7%±3.8Highest AR: 5.1% 0%±2.7Lowest AR: 5.1%

Madison and Desha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $55,893±$49kLowest 8% below AR $68,403±$33kHighest 13% above AR

Desha and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $120,400±$25kHighest 36% below AR $117,600±$55kLowest 37% below AR

Madison and Desha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $725±$612Highest 23% below AR $632±$30Lowest 33% below AR

Madison and Desha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $265 75% below AR —

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 23.8%±30.1Lowest AR: 44.8% 79.2%±51.7Highest AR: 44.8%

Desha and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 24.2%Highest AR: 16% 17.1%Lowest AR: 16%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 71.2%Lowest AR: 66.4% 82.8%Highest AR: 66.4%

Typical home builtmedian year 1982Lowest 5 yrs older than AR 1984Highest 3 yrs older than AR

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 26% above AR 18 minLowest 19% below AR

Work from home 5.2%±8.8Highest AR: 8.8% 0%±2.9Lowest AR: 8.8%

Madison and Desha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.9%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.3 miHighest 5.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.04Highest 0.01Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Forrest City (40%)Batesville (42%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DeshaFew work in Madison

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 1.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 25.2Highest 18.2Lowest

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.

Madison neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Madison’s Town Square.

Desha neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Desha’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Madison and Desha

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

Towns like Madison

+ Compare

Altheimer517 people · $72K homes

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Greers Ferry778 people · $207K homes

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Gateway292 people · $174K homes

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Biggers428 people · $57K 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.

Madison vs Desha

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

73 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Madison and Desha

Towns like Madison

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