Scott County, AR Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Scott County, AR?
DOE classifies Scott County as climate zone 3, mixed-humid — real heating and real cooling seasons both, roughly balanced across the year. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-49 costs around $2,820 and saves an estimated $1,199 a year — payback in roughly 2.4 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Scott County
Heating accounts for about $922/year of that and cooling about $276/year — Scott County needs both. Nationally, Scott County ranks in the 31th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Scott County places 94th out of 690. Against Arkansas's own average of $1,185/year, Scott County runs 1% above that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 3,477 HDD and 1,732 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from WALDRON, AR US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 4.7 miles from Scott County's center. By total degree days, Scott County sits at the 31th percentile nationally. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
The smaller top-up scenario
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-38 needs filling, at roughly $1,620 for an estimated $161/year saved (~10-year payback). Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Scott County
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $2,820 figure above as a planning number for Scott County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Scott County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Scott County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.