The Town FilesHarrisburg, Arkansas
City in Poinsett County · population 2,212 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,100
- Household income
- $48,047
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.4
Harrisburg is a city of 2,212 people in Poinsett County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $128,100, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Arkansas towns, better transit than 89% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 80% of Arkansas towns.
How Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is worth $128,100, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $48,047, which is more affordable than 51% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $688 a month. 45.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisburg | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $688 | $792 |
| Median household income | $48,047 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 45.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harrisburg
| People | Harrisburg | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.2% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Harrisburg
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.6 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 21, 1952 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 2, 2025.
Severe weather in Poinsett County since 1996
Poinsett County has been included in 32 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 |
| November 14, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4748: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 23, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4633: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Poinsett County
Poinsett County had 5,164 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Harrisburg itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Harrisburg
3 public schools with 990 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARRISBURG HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 523 | 11.1 |
| HARRISBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 436 | 15.0 |
| ARKANSAS CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL-HARRISBURG | 7-12 | 31 | 7.8 |
Towns near Harrisburg
- Weiner, AR11.0 mi · 647 people · home $100,300
- Cherry Valley, AR12.5 mi · 575 people · home $77,500
- Trumann, AR13.5 mi · 7,399 people · home $112,300
- Bay, AR15.8 mi · 1,876 people · home $118,400
- Marked Tree, AR16.8 mi · 2,286 people · home $96,200
- Jonesboro, AR17.8 mi · 78,576 people · home $223,200
- Tyronza, AR21.2 mi · 716 people · home $91,800
- Lepanto, AR22.1 mi · 1,732 people · home $76,300
Harrisburg questions
Is Harrisburg, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisburg scores better for retirees than 9% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 30%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Harrisburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisburg is valued at $128,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,047, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $688 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisburg?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.6 inches of snow.
Does Harrisburg get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)