The Town FilesCalico Rock, Arkansas
City in Izard County · population 888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,800
- Household income
- $26,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.8
Calico Rock is a city of 888 people in Izard County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $93,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Arkansas towns, better transit than 81% of Arkansas towns, quieter than 80% of Arkansas towns.
How Calico 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 Calico Rock is worth $93,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $26,655, which is more affordable than 21% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $405 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Calico Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $405 | $792 |
| Median household income | $26,655 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.2% | — |
Who lives in Calico Rock
| People | Calico Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 9.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Calico Rock
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calico Rock since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 10, 2013 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 8.00 inches on June 19, 1970.
Severe weather in Izard County since 1996
Izard County has been included in 31 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 |
| 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 Izard County
Izard County had 2,949 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,611 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Calico Rock itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Calico Rock
2 public schools with 370 students, about 8.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALICO ROCK HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 185 | 6.4 |
| CALICO ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 185 | 10.9 |
Towns near Calico Rock
- Oxford, AR13.1 mi · 573 people · home $97,100
- Melbourne, AR14.2 mi · 1,830 people · home $172,800
- Mountain View, AR18.0 mi · 2,877 people · home $203,900
- Mountain Home, AR20.6 mi · 12,825 people · home $169,800
- Horseshoe Bend, AR22.6 mi · 2,440 people · home $128,500
- Gassville, AR23.1 mi · 2,171 people · home $142,700
- Salem, AR24.1 mi · 1,566 people · home $105,900
- Cotter, AR24.6 mi · 886 people · home $193,100
Calico Rock questions
Is Calico Rock, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Calico Rock scores better for retirees than 100% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 80%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Calico Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Calico Rock is valued at $93,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $26,655, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $405 a month.
What is the weather like in Calico Rock?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 6.7 inches of snow.
Does Calico Rock get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calico Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 10, 2013. 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)