The Town FilesDesha, Arkansas
Community in Independence County · population 715 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,600
- Household income
- $68,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 60.0
Desha is a community of 715 people in Independence County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $117,600, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for families than 74% of Arkansas towns.
How Desha 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 Desha is worth $117,600, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $68,403, which is more affordable than 95% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $632 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Desha | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,600 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $632 | $792 |
| Median household income | $68,403 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Desha
| People | Desha | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 6.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Desha
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Desha since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 15, 1984 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2019.
Severe weather in Independence County since 1996
Independence 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 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 |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Independence County
Independence County had 17,612 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,642 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Desha itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Desha
- Southside, AR3.2 mi · 4,279 people · home $151,300
- Batesville, AR4.4 mi · 11,191 people · home $163,600
- Sulphur Rock, AR10.5 mi · 609 people · home —
- Newark, AR13.7 mi · 1,180 people · home $96,300
- Cave City, AR16.9 mi · 1,922 people · home $120,700
- Tumbling Shoals, AR20.3 mi · 902 people · home $120,200
- Pangburn, AR22.7 mi · 500 people · home $112,500
- Diaz, AR24.6 mi · 1,224 people · home $87,200
Desha questions
Is Desha, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Desha scores better for retirees than 46% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 68%. 36.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.0).
How much does a house cost in Desha?
The median owner-occupied home in Desha is valued at $117,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,403, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $632 a month.
What is the weather like in Desha?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Desha get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Desha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 15, 1984. 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)