The Town FilesCotter, Arkansas
City in Baxter County · population 886 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,100
- Household income
- $35,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 63.2
Cotter is a city of 886 people in Baxter County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $193,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 76% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 73% of Arkansas towns.
How Cotter 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 Cotter is worth $193,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $35,792, which is more affordable than 3% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cotter | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $800 | $792 |
| Median household income | $35,792 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.1% | — |
Who lives in Cotter
| People | Cotter | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 84.4% |
Weather in Cotter
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 7.8 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
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cotter since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 26, 2024 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 98 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 84 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Baxter County since 1996
Baxter County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Baxter County
Baxter County had 16,171 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cotter itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Cotter
2 public schools with 677 students, about 7.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMANDA GIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 353 | 11.8 |
| COTTER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 324 | 5.0 |
Towns near Cotter
- Gassville, AR1.9 mi · 2,171 people · home $142,700
- Flippin, AR4.1 mi · 1,345 people · home $113,800
- Lakeview, AR6.4 mi · 775 people · home $215,700
- Bull Shoals, AR7.5 mi · 1,952 people · home $158,100
- Midway, AR8.0 mi · 1,036 people · home $147,300
- Mountain Home, AR8.4 mi · 12,825 people · home $169,800
- Summit, AR9.6 mi · 544 people · home $126,600
- Yellville, AR9.9 mi · 1,178 people · home $117,300
Cotter questions
Is Cotter, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cotter scores better for retirees than 63% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 47%. 40.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.2).
How much does a house cost in Cotter?
The median owner-occupied home in Cotter is valued at $193,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,792, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Cotter?
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 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Cotter get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cotter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 26, 2024. 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)