The Town FilesBarling, Arkansas
City in Sebastian County · population 4,782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,000
- Household income
- $54,387
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 42.5
Barling is a city of 4,782 people in Sebastian County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $140,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks hipper than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 82% of Arkansas towns.
How Barling ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barling is worth $140,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $54,387, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,128 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barling | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,128 | $792 |
| Median household income | $54,387 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Barling
| People | Barling | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Barling
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barling since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 19, 1968 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 403 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 174 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 26, 2000.
Severe weather in Sebastian County since 1996
Sebastian County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sebastian County
Sebastian County had 67,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,173 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Barling itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Barling
1 public school with 347 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARLING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 347 | 18.3 |
Towns near Barling
- Fort Smith, AR5.5 mi · 89,142 people · home $178,100
- Greenwood, AR8.5 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Van Buren, AR9.4 mi · 23,218 people · home $181,500
- Alma, AR11.7 mi · 5,825 people · home $233,600
- Pocola, OK12.2 mi · 4,255 people · home $151,100
- Charleston, AR13.0 mi · 2,588 people · home $156,300
- Roland, OK14.3 mi · 3,316 people · home $139,800
- Muldrow, OK18.8 mi · 3,272 people · home $114,300
Barling questions
Is Barling, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barling scores better for retirees than 82% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 54%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Barling?
The median owner-occupied home in Barling is valued at $140,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,387, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,128 a month.
What is the weather like in Barling?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Barling get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 19, 1968. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)