The Town FilesForrest City, Arkansas
City in St. Francis County · population 13,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,000
- Household income
- $35,689
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 36.9
Forrest City is a city of 13,015 people in St. Francis County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $92,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 88% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 84% of Arkansas towns.
How Forrest City 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 Forrest City is worth $92,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $35,689, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 39.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forrest City | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $805 | $792 |
| Median household income | $35,689 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 39.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Forrest City
| People | Forrest City | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.7% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Forrest City
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 50.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forrest City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 6, 1974 about 2.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 126 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 2, 2025.
Severe weather in St. Francis County since 1996
St. Francis 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 St. Francis County
St. Francis County had 6,723 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,570 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Forrest City itself the ACS puts it at 13.5%.
Public schools in Forrest City
6 public schools with 2,128 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 709 | 25.3 |
| FORREST CITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 568 | 9.0 |
| STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 418 | 19.9 |
| FORREST CITY JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 278 | 19.9 |
| LINCOLN ACADEMY | 6-6 | 155 | 17.2 |
| EAST ARKANSAS SECONDARY CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Forrest City
- Wynne, AR15.3 mi · 8,314 people · home $141,100
- Marianna, AR16.6 mi · 3,575 people · home $81,700
- Brinkley, AR24.0 mi · 2,700 people · home $94,000
Forrest City questions
Is Forrest City, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forrest City scores better for retirees than 0% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 20%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Forrest City?
The median owner-occupied home in Forrest City is valued at $92,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,689, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Forrest City?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Forrest City get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forrest City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 6, 1974. 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)