Is Mena Safe, Pros and cons of living in Mena
Mena, Arkansas, nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, offers a blend of natural beauty and small-town charm. This city, the county seat of Polk County, is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, making it a gateway to outdoor recreation and scenic landscapes. With a population of approximately 5,589 residents as of the 2020 census, Mena provides a close-knit community atmosphere.
The city’s history is rooted in the railroad industry, with its founding by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the construction of a major rail line. While the economy has diversified over the years, Mena continues to be a place where community values and a connection to the natural environment are prominent. This article explores various facets of life in Mena, from safety and cost of living to employment and education.
Is it Safe to Live in Mena?
Mena’s crime rate presents a mixed picture, with some sources indicating it is higher than the national average while others suggest it is below. One report indicates that Mena has a crime rate of 30 per one thousand residents, placing it among communities with higher crime rates when compared to all sizes of cities. Your chance of being a victim of either violent or property crime in Mena is approximately 1 in 34 (according to NeighborhoodScout). Within Arkansas, more than 89% of communities have a lower crime rate than Mena (according to NeighborhoodScout).
Conversely, another analysis states that Mena, AR has a crime safety grade of A- as of May 2026, with the overall crime rate being 47% below the national average. This source also suggests Mena has lower crime than 87% of major U.S. cities (according to DoorProfit). When considering violent crime specifically, your chance of being a victim in Mena is 1 in 266, with a rate of 4 per one thousand inhabitants (according to NeighborhoodScout). Property crime presents a higher risk, with a chance of being a victim of 1 in 39, a rate of 26 per one thousand population (according to NeighborhoodScout).
Violent Crime Statistics
The violent crime rate in Mena is reported at 372.8 per 100,000 residents, which is slightly higher than the national average of 359.1 (according to OpenCrime). Violent crime in Mena saw a rise of 10.1% from the previous year, and the crime trajectory has been described as worsening based on five years of data (according to OpenCrime). In terms of specific violent crimes, there were no reported murders in Mena in 2024 (according to OpenCrime).
Property Crime Statistics
Property crime in Mena is a significant concern, with a rate of 26 per one thousand population (according to NeighborhoodScout). The chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Mena is 1 in 39 (according to NeighborhoodScout). This category includes offenses such as burglary, larceny over fifty dollars, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In Mena, there were 145 property crimes reported (according to OpenCrime).
Cost of Living in Mena
Mena offers a cost of living that is generally more affordable than the national average. The overall cost of living in Mena is estimated to be 19% lower than the national average (according to AreaVibes). Housing costs in Mena are particularly attractive, being 46% lower than the national average (according to AreaVibes).
For those considering a move, Mena’s cost of living is also lower than the average city in Arkansas, by approximately 5% (according to AreaVibes). This affordability extends to various aspects of daily life, including food and transportation costs, which are more affordable than the U.S. average (according to ERI Economic Research Institute).
Housing Costs
Housing in Mena is notably more affordable than in many other parts of the country. The median property value in Mena was $132,900 in 2024 (according to Data USA). This represents a 16.4% increase from the previous year, indicating some appreciation in property values (according to Data USA). The homeownership rate in Mena is 67.5%, which is higher than the national average (according to Data USA).
For renters, the median rent for a single-family home in Mena is approximately $875 per month (according to Homes.com). A two-bedroom apartment in Mena typically costs around $850 per month (according to Zumper). These rental prices are significantly lower than the national average (according to Zumper).
Daily Expenses
Beyond housing, other daily expenses in Mena are also budget-friendly. Transportation costs in Mena are more affordable than the U.S. average (according to ERI Economic Research Institute). Healthcare costs also tend to be lower than the U.S. average (according to ERI Economic Research Institute).
The cost of living index in Mena reflects these savings, with food costs being more affordable than the national average. Overall, these factors contribute to Mena being a financially accessible place to live for many individuals and families.
Job Market and Economy
The economy of Mena employs approximately 2.29k people, with the retail trade, manufacturing, and healthcare and social assistance sectors being the largest employers (according to Data USA). From 2023 to 2024, employment in Mena saw a decline of 7.67% (according to Data USA).
The unemployment rate in Mena is reported at 9.4% (according to Point2Homes), which is higher than the generally considered typical range of 4% to 5%. However, another source indicates the unemployment rate in Mena, Arkansas, is 9.9% (according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Major Employers
Key employers in Mena include sectors such as retail trade, manufacturing, and healthcare and social assistance (as reported by Data USA). Specific companies that are significant in the Mena area include Walmart, McDonald’s, Dollar General, and AutoZone (according to Indeed.com). Mena Regional Health System is also a notable employer in the region (according to Zippia).
Salaries and Wages
The average salary for jobs in Mena, Arkansas, is approximately $57,291 per year, or an hourly rate of $28 (according to ERI SalaryExpert). The median wage in Mena is around $44.3K per year, with the 75th percentile earning approximately $58.1K annually (according to ZipRecruiter). For those seeking higher-paying roles, some popular jobs like Registered Nurse and LPN can offer salaries significantly above the city’s average (according to ZipRecruiter).
Climate and Weather
Mena experiences a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, muggy summers and cold, wet winters. Over the course of the year, temperatures typically range from 34°F to 94°F, and are rarely below 21°F or above 102°F (according to myPerfectWeather and U.S. Climate Data).
The average annual temperature in Mena hovers around 70°F high and 48°F low (according to Livability.com). The city receives a substantial amount of precipitation, with an average of approximately 59 to 60 inches of rain annually (according to Livability.com and myPerfectWeather). May is typically the wettest month, with an average of 5.08 to 5.51 inches of rainfall (according to myPerfectWeather and U.S. Climate Data).
Seasonal Temperatures
Summer months in Mena, from June through August, bring the hottest temperatures, with averages ranging from 87.4°F to 90.7°F (according to Weather Atlas). The winter months, from December through February, see temperatures drop significantly, with average highs ranging from 50.5°F to 31.8°F (according to Weather Atlas). January is typically the coldest month, with an average low of 28°F (according to myPerfectWeather).
Precipitation and Snowfall
Mena experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, with May being the wettest month. The drier season generally lasts from July to April (according to U.S. Climate Data). Snowfall is minimal in Mena, with an average of about 1 inch of snow annually (according to Livability.com). February typically sees the most snowfall, with around 0.94 inches (according to Weather Atlas).
Education in Mena
Mena School District serves the educational needs of the city, offering K-12 education. The district has an overall Niche grade of B, with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 (according to Niche). According to state test scores, 43% of students are proficient in math and 35% are proficient in reading (according to Niche).
Mena High School, serving grades 9-12, has a student-teacher ratio of 7:1 (according to Niche and Public School Review). While the graduation rate is high, with 95% or more of students graduating (according to Public School Review), the school’s overall testing rank is in the bottom 50% in Arkansas. Math proficiency at Mena High School is 32%, and reading proficiency is 41% (according to Public School Review).
School District Performance
Mena School District is ranked among the top 30% of public school districts in Arkansas based on combined math and reading proficiency testing data (according to Public School Review). The district’s average math proficiency score is 43%, which is higher than the Arkansas public school average of 39%. Reading proficiency scores are also slightly above the state average, with 45% of students proficient compared to Arkansas’s 40% (according to Public School Review).
Post-Secondary Education
For higher education, the University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain (UA Rich Mountain) is located in Mena. In 2023, the university awarded 373 degrees, with 100% of those degrees coming from UA Rich Mountain (according to Data USA). The student population at UA Rich Mountain is skewed towards women, with 279 male students and 440 female students (according to Data USA).
Demographics of Mena
Mena, Arkansas, is home to a population of approximately 5,589 people as of the 2020 census (according to Wikipedia). The city is experiencing slow growth, with projections indicating a population of 5,592 in 2026 (according to Arkansas Census Data). The racial makeup of Mena is predominantly White, with White (Non-Hispanic) residents comprising the largest group (according to Data USA).
The median age in Mena is around 42.7 years (according to Arkansas Census Data). The population is distributed with roughly 23.7% under the age of 18 and 23.8% aged 65 or older (according to Wikipedia). The gender distribution shows approximately 47.4% males and 52.6% females (according to Point2Homes).
Racial and Ethnic Composition
The largest racial/ethnic group in Mena is White, accounting for about 91.9% of the population (according to Arkansas Census Data). Hispanic or Latino individuals make up approximately 4.3% of the population, and those identifying with two or more races constitute about 3.7% (according to Arkansas Census Data). In terms of citizenship, 99.3% of Mena residents are U.S. citizens (according to Data USA).
Household and Income Data
Mena has approximately 2,290 households, with an average of 2 members per household (according to Data USA). The median household income in Mena was $47,428 in 2024 (according to Arkansas Census Data). However, 11.3% of Mena families live below the poverty line (according to Arkansas Census Data).