The Town FilesDierks, Arkansas
City in Howard County · population 916 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,200
- Household income
- $22,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 51.7
Dierks is a city of 916 people in Howard County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $100,200, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 81% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Arkansas towns.
How Dierks 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 Dierks is worth $100,200, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $22,188, which is more affordable than 6% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $479 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dierks | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,200 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $479 | $792 |
| Median household income | $22,188 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dierks
| People | Dierks | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 52.9% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in Dierks
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dierks since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 13, 2003.
Severe weather in Howard County since 1996
Howard County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Howard County
Howard County had 6,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,784 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Dierks itself the ACS puts it at 12.2%.
Public schools in Dierks
2 public schools with 518 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCH | K-6 | 279 | 15.5 |
| DIERKS HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 239 | 4.3 |
Towns near Dierks
- Lockesburg, AR13.8 mi · 594 people · home $119,400
- Nashville, AR15.5 mi · 4,153 people · home $167,600
- Mineral Springs, AR17.6 mi · 1,085 people · home $110,600
- Murfreesboro, AR18.8 mi · 1,495 people · home $119,300
- De Queen, AR19.4 mi · 6,105 people · home $109,600
- Wickes, AR21.6 mi · 637 people · home $45,000
- Kirby, AR22.7 mi · 721 people · home $163,700
- Horatio, AR22.9 mi · 920 people · home $122,700
Dierks questions
Is Dierks, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dierks scores better for retirees than 94% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 72%. 32.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Dierks?
The median owner-occupied home in Dierks is valued at $100,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $22,188, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $479 a month.
What is the weather like in Dierks?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Dierks get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dierks 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)