The Town FilesJacksonville, Arkansas
City in Pulaski County · population 29,477 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,400
- Household income
- $49,666
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 68
- Median age
- 32.4
Jacksonville is a city of 29,477 people in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $163,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 91% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for cycling than 86% of Arkansas towns.
How Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville is worth $163,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $49,666, which is more affordable than 25% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $930 a month. 49.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jacksonville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $930 | $792 |
| Median household income | $49,666 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Jacksonville
| People | Jacksonville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Jacksonville
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 41 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacksonville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 25 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 465 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 146 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 27, 2021.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 33 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 |
| April 2, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4698: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 261,631 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,505 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Jacksonville itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Jacksonville
10 public schools with 4,885 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,165 | 11.1 |
| JACKSONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 929 | 14.1 |
| JACKSONVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 764 | 17.4 |
| BOBBY G LESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 500 | 13.2 |
| BAYOU METO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 464 | 17.2 |
| MURRELL TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 412 | 15.8 |
| ADKINS PRESCHOOL CENTER | PK-PK | 217 | 18.1 |
| JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE ELEMENTARY (charter) | K-4 | 181 | 12.9 |
| JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE FLIGHTLINE ACADEMY (charter) | 5-8 | 175 | 8.8 |
| JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 78 | 5.6 |
Towns near Jacksonville
- Sherwood, AR4.5 mi · 32,731 people · home $199,500
- Gibson, AR6.4 mi · 4,111 people · home $157,800
- North Little Rock, AR8.9 mi · 64,591 people · home $178,900
- Cabot, AR8.9 mi · 26,569 people · home $207,300
- Austin, AR11.9 mi · 3,460 people · home $220,500
- Ward, AR13.6 mi · 6,052 people · home $189,100
- Lonoke, AR14.1 mi · 4,276 people · home $106,800
- Vilonia, AR14.7 mi · 4,288 people · home $232,700
Jacksonville questions
Is Jacksonville, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jacksonville scores better for retirees than 8% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 5%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Jacksonville?
The median owner-occupied home in Jacksonville is valued at $163,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,666, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $930 a month.
What is the weather like in Jacksonville?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Jacksonville get tornadoes?
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacksonville 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)