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Compare towns

Mount Ida vs Des Arc

124 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+18.3 pts in Des Arc) and property tax bill (+68% in Mount Ida).

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Mount Ida, AROne of the healthiest townsArkansas · 1,376 people
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Des Arc, ARKnown for its schoolsArkansas · 1,591 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.

Mount IdaOne of the healthiest towns
Health90% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 71%of AR districts HistorySettled in 18902 places on the National Register All about Mount Ida →
Des ArcKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 99%of AR districts Health93% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates History21 archive photos & papers8 places on the National Register All about Des Arc →
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+18.3 pts
Des Arc has grown faster since 2010
Des Arc +10.9%Mount Ida -7.4%
Property tax bill+68%
Tax bills are bigger in Mount Ida
Mount Ida $768Des Arc $456
Jobs per worker+55%
Mount Ida is more of a job hub
Mount Ida 1.41Des Arc 0.91
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $880 more a month in Mount Ida

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.

Mount Ida$1,390/mo
Typical home $244K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.55% · or rent about $576/mo · Housing →
Des Arc$510/mo
Typical home $91K (Census) · tax rate 0.50% · or rent about $424/mo · Housing →

The difference: $880 a month, about $10,500 a year, between Mount Ida and Des Arc.

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.

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
–Mount IdaNot graded C+Des ArcSafer than 44% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+Mount IdaBetter than 71% of districts in the state A+Des ArcBetter than 99% of districts in the state
Health
DMount IdaHealthier than 10% of U.S. towns DDes ArcHealthier than 7% of U.S. towns
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
Mount IdaDes Arc
Snow a year3″2″
January low—33°F
July high—92°F
Growing season (days)—247d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)67th85th
Outdoors & history
Mount IdaDes Arc
Trails—2 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled1890—
National Register places28
Archive photos1321
Famous people born here—4
Community
Mount IdaDes Arc
Library hours a week34 hrs23 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

124 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Mount IdaARDes ArcAR
Mount Ida ↔ Des Arc124 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.

Mount IdaDes Arc
People
Population 1,376Lowest 1,591Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -7.4%Lowest AR: +3.3% +10.9%Highest AR: +3.3%
Median age 47.8±11.8Lowest 24% above AR 48.8±5.9Highest 27% above AR
Des Arc and Mount Ida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.4%±5.9Highest AR: 23.1% 12.6%±5.2Lowest AR: 23.1%
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 31.4%±6.6Highest AR: 17.6% 25.9%±6.5Lowest AR: 17.6%
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.5%Highest AR: 25.7% 10.1%Lowest AR: 25.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±3.7Highest AR: 5.1% 1.7%±1.8Lowest AR: 5.1%
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $37,045±$11kHighest 39% below AR $30,921±$4kLowest 49% below AR
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $140,900±$62kHighest 25% below AR $90,700±$20kLowest 52% below AR
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $576±$148Highest 39% below AR $424±$202Lowest 55% below AR
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $768Highest 26% below AR $456Lowest 56% below AR
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 66.8%±10.6Highest AR: 44.8% 49.1%±12.9Lowest AR: 44.8%
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 32.6%Highest AR: 16% 20%Lowest AR: 16%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56%Lowest AR: 66.4% 62.2%Highest AR: 66.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 8 yrs older than AR 1976Lowest 11 yrs older than AR
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minHighest about the AR average 21 minLowest 5% below AR
Work from home 6.9%±8.9Highest AR: 8.8% 2.5%±3.4Lowest AR: 8.8%
Mount Ida and Des Arc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 20.4%Highest 15.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.8 miLowest 35.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.41Highest 0.91Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Hot Springs (14%)Little Rock (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Des ArcFew work in Mount Ida
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.1%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 2.0 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.0Highest 78.5Lowest
Schools
School district MOUNT IDA SCHOOL DISTRICTDES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town Mount Ida High SchoolDes Arc High School
Students per teacherat that high school 5.0Lowest 12.2Highest
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.

Mount Ida neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mount Ida’s Town Square.

Des Arc neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Des Arc’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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