The Town FilesBull Shoals, Arkansas
City in Marion County · population 1,952 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,100
- Household income
- $41,976
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 50.2
Bull Shoals is a city of 1,952 people in Marion County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $158,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks quieter than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 95% of Arkansas towns, better transit than 95% of Arkansas towns.
How Bull Shoals 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 Bull Shoals is worth $158,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $41,976, which is more affordable than 12% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $715 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bull Shoals | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $715 | $792 |
| Median household income | $41,976 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.8% | — |
Who lives in Bull Shoals
| People | Bull Shoals | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Bull Shoals
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bull Shoals since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 18, 1985 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 80 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 11, 2017.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 3,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,231 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Bull Shoals itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Towns near Bull Shoals
- Lakeview, AR2.9 mi · 775 people · home $215,700
- Midway, AR6.6 mi · 1,036 people · home $147,300
- Flippin, AR6.7 mi · 1,345 people · home $113,800
- Cotter, AR7.5 mi · 886 people · home $193,100
- Gassville, AR8.5 mi · 2,171 people · home $142,700
- Summit, AR10.0 mi · 544 people · home $126,600
- Yellville, AR11.3 mi · 1,178 people · home $117,300
- Mountain Home, AR11.8 mi · 12,825 people · home $169,800
Bull Shoals questions
Is Bull Shoals, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bull Shoals scores better for retirees than 95% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 99%. 31.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Bull Shoals?
The median owner-occupied home in Bull Shoals is valued at $158,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,976, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $715 a month.
What is the weather like in Bull Shoals?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Bull Shoals get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bull Shoals since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 18, 1985. 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)