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Watson vs Reed

17 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.8× in Watson) and property tax bill (+61% in Reed).

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Watson, ARA small town of 214Arkansas · 214 people
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Reed, ARA small town of 156Arkansas · 156 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.

WatsonA small town of 214
Quiet strengthsWatson doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Watson →
ReedA small town of 156
Quiet strengthsReed doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Reed →
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.

Jobs per worker7.8×
Watson is more of a job hub
Watson 0.31Reed 0.04
Property tax bill+61%
Tax bills are bigger in Reed
Reed $321Watson $199
Typical home built15 yrs
Watson’s homes are older
Reed 1989Watson 1974
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
WatsonReed
Snow a year1″2″
January low34°F—
July high90°F—
Growing season (days)247d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)79th58th
Outdoors & history
WatsonReed
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Community
WatsonReed
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

17 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

WatsonReedWatsonReed
Watson ↔ Reed17 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.

WatsonReed
People
Population 214Highest 156Lowest
Median age 57.8±20.8Highest 50% above AR 55.4±21.2Lowest 44% above AR
Watson and Reed are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 9.3%±12.9Lowest AR: 23.1% 14.1%±25.5Highest AR: 23.1%
Reed and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 48.1%±27.5Highest AR: 17.6% 40.4%±16.4Lowest AR: 17.6%
Watson and Reed are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.2%Highest AR: 25.7% 11.9%Lowest AR: 25.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.1%±7.2Highest AR: 5.1% 0%±11.8Lowest AR: 5.1%
Watson and Reed are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $30,139±$27kLowest 50% below AR $31,125±$12kHighest 49% below AR
Reed and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $48,600±$37k 74% below AR —
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $720±$87 24% below AR
Property taxmedian, yearly $199Lowest 81% below AR $321Highest 69% below AR
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 7.7%±100Lowest AR: 44.8% 100%±100Highest AR: 44.8%
Reed and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 21.5%Highest AR: 16% 14.7%Lowest AR: 16%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 84.1%Lowest AR: 66.4% 86.5%Highest AR: 66.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 13 yrs older than AR 1989Highest 2 yrs newer than AR
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 41 minHighest 81% above AR 41 minLowest 80% above AR
Work from home 2.6%±3.5Highest AR: 8.8% 0%±27.7Lowest AR: 8.8%
Watson and Reed are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 34.3 miHighest 25.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.31Highest 0.04Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Dumas (18%)McGehee (26%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ReedFew work in Watson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 119Highest 114Lowest
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.

Watson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Watson’s Town Square.

Reed neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Reed’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Watson and Reed

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Towns like Watson

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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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