The Town FilesHughes, Arkansas
City in St. Francis County · population 1,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,800
- Household income
- $43,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 57.0
Hughes is a city of 1,056 people in St. Francis County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $69,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 84% of Arkansas towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #5 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas With Mild Winters
- #11 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Arkansas
- #12 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Cheapest Homes
How Hughes 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 Hughes is worth $69,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $43,250, which is more affordable than 97% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $389 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hughes | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $389 | $792 |
| Median household income | $43,250 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Hughes
| People | Hughes | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 41.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Hughes
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hughes since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1970 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 21, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 11, 1987.
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 Hughes itself the ACS puts it at 14.5%.
Towns near Hughes
- Tunica Resorts, MS12.1 mi · 2,132 people · home $223,600
- Madison, AR15.5 mi · 759 people · home $120,400
- Walls, MS17.3 mi · 1,351 people · home $193,300
- North Tunica, MS17.7 mi · 760 people · home $166,400
- Tunica, MS18.7 mi · 1,026 people · home $194,700
- Forrest City, AR18.8 mi · 13,015 people · home $92,000
- Lynchburg, MS20.7 mi · 2,466 people · home $222,300
- Marianna, AR20.7 mi · 3,575 people · home $81,700
Hughes questions
Is Hughes, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hughes scores better for retirees than 84% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 68%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Hughes?
The median owner-occupied home in Hughes is valued at $69,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,250, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $389 a month.
What is the weather like in Hughes?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Hughes get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hughes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1970. 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)