The Town FilesElaine, Arkansas
City in Phillips County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $64,800
- Household income
- $29,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 46.0
Elaine is a city of 509 people in Phillips County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $64,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Arkansas towns, quieter than 92% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Arkansas towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #6 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas With Mild Winters
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Cheapest Homes
- #22 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Arkansas
- #32 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
How Elaine 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 Elaine is worth $64,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $29,792, which is more affordable than 77% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $326 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elaine | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $64,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $326 | $792 |
| Median household income | $29,792 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Elaine
| People | Elaine | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 65.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Elaine
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 68 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elaine since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 30, 2009 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 31, 2015.
Severe weather in Phillips County since 1996
Phillips County has been included in 18 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 |
| July 10, 2020 | Tornado | DR-4556: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Phillips County
Phillips County had 4,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,596 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in Elaine itself the ACS puts it at 41.6%.
Towns near Elaine
- Friars Point, MS13.0 mi · 896 people · home $56,400
- Marvell, AR17.5 mi · 855 people · home $58,200
- Clarksdale, MS18.1 mi · 14,903 people · home $83,900
- Helena-West Helena, AR20.3 mi · 9,519 people · home $73,200
- Jonestown, MS22.8 mi · 962 people · home $61,100
- Shelby, MS25.3 mi · 2,021 people · home $90,400
- DeWitt, AR27.7 mi · 3,056 people · home $75,700
Elaine questions
Is Elaine, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elaine scores better for retirees than 99% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 92%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Elaine?
The median owner-occupied home in Elaine is valued at $64,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,792, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $326 a month.
What is the weather like in Elaine?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Elaine get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elaine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 30, 2009. 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)