The Town FilesGurdon, Arkansas
City in Clark County · population 1,840 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,600
- Household income
- $47,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 37.6
Gurdon is a city of 1,840 people in Clark County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $111,600, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better transit than 100% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Arkansas towns.
How Gurdon 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 Gurdon is worth $111,600, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $47,587, which is more affordable than 72% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $698 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gurdon | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,600 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $698 | $792 |
| Median household income | $47,587 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.0% | — |
Who lives in Gurdon
| People | Gurdon | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Gurdon
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 29.7°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gurdon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 102 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 25, 2026.
Severe weather in Clark County since 1996
Clark County has been included in 24 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 Clark County
Clark County had 8,618 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,514 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Gurdon itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Gurdon
2 public schools with 549 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CABE ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 298 | 13.0 |
| GURDON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 251 | 9.7 |
Towns near Gurdon
- Arkadelphia, AR15.4 mi · 10,380 people · home $179,300
- Prescott, AR15.7 mi · 3,101 people · home $82,400
- Caddo Valley, AR18.7 mi · 595 people · home $119,900
- Camden, AR29.8 mi · 10,612 people · home $107,400
- Amity, AR30.0 mi · 681 people · home $143,100
Gurdon questions
Is Gurdon, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gurdon scores better for retirees than 37% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 21%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Gurdon?
The median owner-occupied home in Gurdon is valued at $111,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,587, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $698 a month.
What is the weather like in Gurdon?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 29.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Gurdon get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gurdon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)