Athens, AL vs Sherwood, AR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sherwood, AR has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Athens, AL.

Athens, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,130 / month
Sherwood, AR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,170 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Athens, AL and Sherwood, AR using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Athens, AL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $463/month in Sherwood, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,440 in Sherwood, AR

Regional cost estimates: Athens, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Sherwood, AR uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 6.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$463

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Athens, AL

Population:31K

Cost Index:

87.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$244K

Sherwood, AR

Population:33K

Cost Index:

82.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$240K

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Athens, AL

The Heart of Dixie

31K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 31K residents.

Sherwood, AR

The Natural State

33K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 33K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Athens, AL vs Sherwood, AR

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Athens, AL	Sherwood, AR	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,150/mo	$1,765/mo	↓ $385less	17.9%
Groceries	$1,070/mo	$1,021/mo	↓ $48.39less	4.5%
All Utilities	$603/mo	$576/mo	↓ $26.91less	4.5%
Transportation	$1,344/mo	$1,321/mo	↓ $22.58less	1.7%
Other	$1,759/mo	$1,780/mo	↑ $20.19more	1.1%
Healthcare	$573/mo	$573/mo	↓ $0.81less	0.1%

Housing

↓ 17.9%

Athens, AL

$2,150

Sherwood, AR

$1,765

Difference

$385

less

Groceries

↓ 4.5%

Athens, AL

$1,070

Sherwood, AR

$1,021

Difference

$48.39

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.5%

Athens, AL

$603

Sherwood, AR

$576

Difference

$26.91

less

Transportation

↓ 1.7%

Athens, AL

$1,344

Sherwood, AR

$1,321

Difference

$22.58

less

Other

↑ 1.1%

Athens, AL

$1,759

Sherwood, AR

$1,780

Difference

$20.19

Healthcare

↓ 0.1%

Athens, AL

$573

Sherwood, AR

$573

Difference

$0.81

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$840

To$1,000

↑ $160

1 Bed

From$970

To$1,010

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,130

To$1,170

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$1,450

To$1,570

↑ $120

Athens, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/mo

Sherwood, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Athens, AL

$7,037

Monthly in Sherwood, AR

$463

Difference

Home Values

Athens

Sherwood

$244K

Median Value

$240K

↓ -0.5%

YoY Change

↑ +2.5%

↑ +32.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +26%

Homes in Sherwood are 1% less expensive than Athens

Calculate payment - Athens Calculate payment - Sherwood

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.6K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$130

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.0%

Rate difference

Athens, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Sherwood, AR

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Arkansas State Tax

Effective: 6.0%

$9.0K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.7%

$46.0K

Take-Home Pay

$8,664/month

$104.0K

Additional Tax Information

Athens, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

Sherwood, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Athens

Sherwood

57 Moderate

Air Quality

55 Moderate

26%

Good Air Days

34.4%

98 High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

41 days

Heat Days >95°F

54 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

41 days

Heat Days >95°F

54 days

Before moving from Athens, AL to Sherwood, AR

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Sherwood, AR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Athens, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Athens to Sherwood moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Sherwood, AR by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Athens, AL vs Sherwood, AR

How do the cost estimates for Athens, AL and Sherwood, AR compare?

Sherwood, AR has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Athens, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Athens, AL, the model estimates $144,440 in Sherwood, AR. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Athens, AL and Sherwood, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Athens, AL and $1,170/month in Sherwood, AR. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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