The Town FilesCarlisle, Arkansas
City in Lonoke County · population 2,033 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,400
- Household income
- $41,713
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 47.4
Carlisle is a city of 2,033 people in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $164,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 92% of Arkansas towns, quieter than 83% of Arkansas towns.
How Carlisle 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 Carlisle is worth $164,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $41,713, which is more affordable than 10% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $657 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlisle | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $657 | $792 |
| Median household income | $41,713 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Carlisle
| People | Carlisle | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 38.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in Carlisle
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 54 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 2009.
Severe weather in Lonoke County since 1996
Lonoke County has been included in 29 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 |
| November 14, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4748: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 2, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4698: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lonoke County
Lonoke County had 15,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,054 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Carlisle itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Carlisle
2 public schools with 601 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLISLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 320 | 10.3 |
| CARLISLE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 281 | 9.4 |
Towns near Carlisle
- Lonoke, AR9.5 mi · 4,276 people · home $106,800
- Hazen, AR10.4 mi · 1,481 people · home $134,400
- De Valls Bluff, AR15.9 mi · 520 people · home —
- Des Arc, AR18.3 mi · 1,905 people · home $90,700
- Ward, AR19.5 mi · 6,052 people · home $189,100
- Austin, AR20.3 mi · 3,460 people · home $220,500
- Cabot, AR20.5 mi · 26,569 people · home $207,300
- Beebe, AR21.2 mi · 8,437 people · home $158,200
Carlisle questions
Is Carlisle, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlisle scores better for retirees than 40% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 83%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Carlisle?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlisle is valued at $164,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,713, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $657 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlisle?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.5 inches of snow.
Does Carlisle get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 21, 1952. 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)