The Town FilesCaraway, Arkansas
City in Craighead County · population 1,133 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,900
- Household income
- $38,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 32.7
Caraway is a city of 1,133 people in Craighead County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $85,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 79% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 78% of Arkansas towns.
How Caraway 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 Caraway is worth $85,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $38,558, which is more affordable than 77% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $603 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Caraway | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $603 | $792 |
| Median household income | $38,558 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Caraway
| People | Caraway | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Caraway
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caraway since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 38 deaths and 507 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Craighead County since 1996
Craighead County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| December 23, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4633: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Craighead County
Craighead County had 55,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,690 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Caraway itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Caraway
1 public school with 123 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIVERSIDE EAST ELEM. SCHOOL | K-6 | 123 | 11.2 |
Towns near Caraway
- Lake City, AR8.4 mi · 2,326 people · home $152,000
- Monette, AR9.3 mi · 1,506 people · home $114,200
- Lepanto, AR10.5 mi · 1,732 people · home $76,300
- Leachville, AR11.1 mi · 2,039 people · home $111,800
- Manila, AR12.3 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
- Trumann, AR12.8 mi · 7,399 people · home $112,300
- Bay, AR12.9 mi · 1,876 people · home $118,400
- Keiser, AR14.0 mi · 751 people · home $128,700
Caraway questions
Is Caraway, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Caraway scores better for retirees than 78% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 70%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Caraway?
The median owner-occupied home in Caraway is valued at $85,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,558, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $603 a month.
What is the weather like in Caraway?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Caraway get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caraway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)