Jasper, Arkansas
City in Newton County · population 547 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,900
- Household income
- $30,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 59.6
Jasper is a city of 547 people in Newton County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $183,900, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Arkansas towns, quieter than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 90% of Arkansas towns.
How Jasper 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 Jasper is worth $183,900, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $30,929, which is more affordable than 1% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $723 a month. 52.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jasper | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $723 | $792 |
| Median household income | $30,929 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jasper
| People | Jasper | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.6 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.7% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 27.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 52.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Jasper
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 25.7°F. About 56.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.6 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jasper since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 20, 1973 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 13, 1981.
Severe weather in Newton County since 1996
Newton County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for severe storm, flood, severe ice storm.
| 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 Newton County
Newton County had 1,004 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,124 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Jasper itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Jasper
2 public schools with 466 students, about 8.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JASPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 262 | 13.1 |
| JASPER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 204 | 5.4 |
Towns near Jasper
- Harrison, AR16.4 mi · 13,069 people · home $169,600
- Green Forest, AR26.1 mi · 2,972 people · home $143,200
Jasper questions
Is Jasper, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jasper scores better for retirees than 93% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 91%. 38.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.6).
How much does a house cost in Jasper?
The median owner-occupied home in Jasper is valued at $183,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,929, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $723 a month.
What is the weather like in Jasper?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 25.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 9.6 inches of snow.
Does Jasper get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jasper since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 20, 1973. 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)