Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Fayetteville, AR?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.1% of gross income.
Fayetteville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fayetteville, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fayetteville
View full rent data for Fayetteville, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Fayetteville, AR?
Median rent in Fayetteville is $1,720 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Arkansas earns about $55,676 a year, which makes that rent 37.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Fayetteville?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Arkansas (~$55,676/yr) supports up to $1,392 a month in rent. Fayetteville's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which is $328/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Fayetteville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Arkansas works roughly 64.3 hours a month to cover Fayetteville's median rent of $1,720.
Where is rent cheaper than Fayetteville for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Gentry ($1,719/mo), Farmington ($1,715/mo), Hot Springs Village ($1,713/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.