Real Estate Investing in West Memphis, Arkansas (72301)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Crittenden County • Population: 24,182 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 72301 (West Memphis, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 8.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in West Memphis, AR (72301)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $133,816
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,022
% Renters 55.4%

Market Analysis: 72301 West Memphis

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 72301 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $134K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $134K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 72301 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 72301 sits on the difficult end of the AR spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 72301 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 72301 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $134K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in West Memphis:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
68 days
Average time to sell
Slow
10.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$138K$127K$117K$106K$95K$84KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72301 Compare?

Metric 72301 West Memphis Memphis, TN-MS-AR Arkansas
Home Value $133,816 $133,816 N/A $216,341
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.6% 5.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 72301? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

55% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 72301 (West Memphis, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $133,816
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 11.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.6%
Cap Rate 5.6%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72301

Population: 24,182

💰 Median Household Income
$41,022
This area
$41,022
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
55.4%
This area
55.4%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.4 years
This area
33.4 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 62.2%
White 33.1%
Other/Mixed 4.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
26.8%
This area
26.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 72301

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,577 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

WEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A+ Excellent

WONDER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
552 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

THE ACADEMIES OF WEST MEMPHIS CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 10 – 12 High School Charter
👥
944 Students
👨‍🏫
7.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

WEAVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

FAULK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

JACKSON/WONDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
541 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

MADDUX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
A Very Good

RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
507 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
717 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,139 Per Student
B+ Above Average

BRAGG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
514 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,959 Per Student
C Below Average

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY?MIDSOUTH TECHNICAL CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 951 Off-Campus Students
C+
Arkansas State University Mid-South
1,021 students · 2.6 mi
C+
Visible Music College
182 students · 7.4 mi
C
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis
1,691 students · 8.0 mi
C
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
3,121 students · 8.2 mi
C
Le Moyne-Owen College
646 students · 8.2 mi
C
Vibe Barber College
63 students · 8.4 mi
C+
Baptist Health Sciences University
755 students · 8.6 mi
C
Southern College of Optometry
525 students · 9.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 951 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in West Memphis, AR?

Investors in West Memphis, AR typically see rents near $954/mo per month against $134K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How deep is the rental pool in West Memphis, AR?

Tenant demand in West Memphis, AR is solid. The local workforce $954/mo rents across most rental classes.

Does West Memphis, AR make sense for an investment property?

West Memphis, AR rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $134K and rents near $954/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the smart move for investors in West Memphis, AR?

West Memphis, AR investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($134K prices, $954/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Should investors worry about vacancy in West Memphis, AR?

Occupancy in West Memphis, AR runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $954/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 72301 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 72301 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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