1st Advantage MortgageFor Russellville, AR rentals, the DSCR test compares rent to the full payment. The Census medians that frame it are $842 rent, $172,400 value and $972 in yearly taxes.
Russellville by the Census numbers
Start with the two numbers every DSCR file turns on. Rent in Russellville runs a median $842 a month (about 11% below the Arkansas median of $947), and the median owner-occupied home is worth $172,400. The gross rent-to-value ratio for Russellville works out to 5.9% (twelve months of median rent divided by median value), neither especially thin nor especially rich. The figure combines all rental types with all owner-occupied homes, so it is a screening number and not an appraisal.
| Indicator | Arkansas | Russellville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.55% | 0.56% | +2% |
| Household income, median | $60,773 | $50,877 | -16% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $188,000 | $172,400 | -8% |
| Typical monthly rent | $947 | $842 | -11% |
| Persons per household | 2.46 | 2.52 | |
| Share of homes detached | 70.0% | 66.9% | -4% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 11.4% | 6.5% | -43% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 25.7% | 28.8% | +12% |
| Workers on their own account | 10.4% | 10.4% | +0% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 44.8% | 42.6% | -5% |
| Units sitting vacant | 13.5% | 10.9% | -19% |
| Typical construction year | 1987 | 1985 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 6.0% | 5.9% | -3% |
| Households that rent | 33.6% | 44.6% | +33% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 3,049,391 | 29,162 |
44.6% of Russellville households rent, well above the Arkansas median of 34%. That is a healthy base of tenants without the churn of a pure student or military town. Median household income of $50,877 (about 16% below the Arkansas median of $60,773) sets the ceiling for rent growth, and 43% of renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent.
Homes, buildings and vacancies in Russellville
Russellville is dominated by detached homes (67% of units), which keeps most rental income tied to house comparables and puts maintenance squarely on the owner. The median home was built in 1985, a middle-aged stock where roofs, HVAC and water heaters are the main repair items.
The Census counts 11% of Russellville housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 7.0%.
Investor takeaways for Russellville
At 5.9%, Russellville is neither a bargain nor a stretch for DSCR underwriting, so the file turns on the exact rent, tax and insurance figures for the property. A median build year of 1985 suggests moderate repair budgets with the usual replacement cycles. With about 45% of households renting, Russellville has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.
Taxes, insurance and hazards in Russellville
In Russellville the median tax bill for an owner-occupied home is $972, or about 0.56% of value (Arkansas overall: 0.55%). That bill is close to the Arkansas median of $1,040. That is about 10% of a year of median rent gone to taxes before the loan is even counted.
County-level hazard data from FEMA (National Risk Index 1.20) shows Pope County with relatively low overall risk and ice storms (very high), tornadoes (relatively high) and heat waves (relatively moderate) at the top of the list.
| Hazard in Pope County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Strong wind exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat waves exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornadoes exposure | Relatively High |
| Ice storms exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Low |
Flood risk in Russellville is parcel by parcel: check the address on FEMA's flood map service, because a mapped high-risk zone means required flood cover and a heavier payment.
A worked DSCR test for Russellville
Take the median rent ($842), subtract median taxes spread over twelve months ($81), and you have $761 of room at a 1.00 ratio. A lender asking for 1.25 cuts that to $593. Real quotes for the address decide the rest.
Rules a Russellville landlord should check
This page does not claim to list every Russellville rental ordinance. Before you buy, call the city's planning or code office and Pope County to ask about rental registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and read any association declaration. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Russellville. Arkansas adds a state tourism tax on transient lodging to its sales tax, with local taxes on top, and marketplaces such as Airbnb generally collect the state taxes for bookings they process while hosts answer for local taxes the platform does not collect.
Arkansas gives a landlord 60 days after the tenancy ends to return a deposit, an easy deadline to miss without a checklist.
How Russellville stacks up against its neighbors
Hot Springs's median home value of $165,500 is the group's floor and Conway's $252,100 its ceiling, while Russellville is $172,400.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 46% | $1,902 | $236,400 | 203,436 | $1,106 |
| Benton | 32% | $1,352 | $212,700 | 36,595 | $1,072 |
| Hot Springs | 43% | $816 | $165,500 | 37,920 | $914 |
| Conway | 55% | $1,467 | $252,100 | 67,642 | $1,011 |
| Russellville | 45% | $972 | $172,400 | 29,162 | $842 |
Tenants, jobs and anchors in Russellville
10.4% of employed residents work for themselves, which matters here because DSCR lending does not ask for tax returns or pay stubs. The same survey shows government workers are about 14% of employment, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Education is part of the Russellville rental picture, with Arkansas Tech University among the institutions listed. On the logistics side, air service through Russellville Municipal Airport are noted for Russellville.
Before you make an offer in Russellville
Bring the Russellville numbers to a loan officer: the rent, the taxes, the insurance and your reserves. Apply online or ask for a quote, and use the calculator to preview the ratio.
More Arkansas markets
- All Arkansas DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Conway, AR
- DSCR loans in Hot Springs, AR
- DSCR loans in Benton, AR
- DSCR loans in Little Rock, AR
- Every market we cover
Where these facts come from
- ACS 2020 to 2024 estimates for Russellville
- National Risk Index entry, Pope County
- Encyclopedia entry for Russellville
- Text of Ark. Code 18-16-303, 18-16-304, 18-16-305, 18-16-306 for Russellville landlords
- Arkansas DFA, sales and use tax rates (Arkansas)
All Russellville statistics are ACS five-year survey estimates from 2020 to 2024. The Arkansas legal summaries are from the RedFlagLease dataset, licensed CC BY 4.0, with statute links. Last reviewed October 2026; the city and county have the final word on Russellville rules.
A short buyer checklist
Ask the seller for twelve months of utility bills and any lease on the Russellville property, confirm who pays water, trash and lawn care, and get the insurance quote before the inspection period ends so the ratio is tested on real numbers.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent number goes into a Russellville, AR DSCR calculation?
A signed lease or the appraiser's rent schedule supplies the rent, depending on the program, and $842 is the Census median for Russellville renters, only a benchmark.
How do taxes and insurance affect a DSCR loan in Russellville?
The denominator is the whole housing payment. Using Russellville's median rent of $842, a ratio of 1.25 allows $674, and a ratio of 1.00 allows all $842.
What do Russellville owners pay in real estate taxes?
The Census reports a median of $972 a year for Russellville owners, about 0.56% of median value against 0.55% for Arkansas. The county reassesses after a sale, so ask the tax office for an estimate on your purchase price.
Will a lender count nightly rental income at a Russellville property?
Yes on programs built for it, once the use is lawful in Russellville. Gather twelve months of statements or a third-party projection, and have Arkansas tax registration squared away.
Are there deposit limits for Russellville rentals?
Under Ark. Code 18-16-303, 18-16-304, 18-16-305, 18-16-306: The deposit is due back within 60 days of move-out. Check the statute and your lease before collecting.
What hazard risk does Russellville carry for investors?
The county scores relatively low overall in FEMA's index, with ice storms leading. Parcel-level flood maps and a real insurance quote give the answer that counts.
Can a company be the borrower on a Russellville purchase?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Russellville purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.