The Town FilesBlack Rock, Arkansas
City in Lawrence County · population 590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,700
- Household income
- $52,019
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.5
Black Rock is a city of 590 people in Lawrence County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $68,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for families than 72% of Arkansas towns.
How Black Rock 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 Black Rock is worth $68,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $52,019, which is more affordable than 99% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Black Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $792 |
| Median household income | $52,019 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Black Rock
| People | Black Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 33.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.6% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 84.4% |
Weather in Black Rock
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Rock since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 11, 1979 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 9, 2015.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 8, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4865: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 3,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,366 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Black Rock itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Towns near Black Rock
- Imboden, AR7.5 mi · 640 people · home $104,900
- Hoxie, AR8.9 mi · 2,598 people · home $87,600
- Walnut Ridge, AR9.1 mi · 5,384 people · home $117,900
- Pocahontas, AR13.3 mi · 7,371 people · home $120,000
- Swifton, AR19.5 mi · 733 people · home $80,000
- Ozark Acres, AR20.5 mi · 692 people · home $73,700
- Bono, AR21.8 mi · 2,409 people · home $162,100
- Hardy, AR25.5 mi · 743 people · home $58,600
Black Rock questions
Is Black Rock, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Black Rock scores better for retirees than 19% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 67%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Black Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Black Rock is valued at $68,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,019, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Black Rock?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Black Rock get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 11, 1979. 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)