The Town FilesKensett, Arkansas
City in White County · population 1,400 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,400
- Household income
- $31,207
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 36.8
Kensett is a city of 1,400 people in White County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $90,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 93% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 91% of Arkansas towns.
How Kensett 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 Kensett is worth $90,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $31,207, which is more affordable than 41% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 41.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kensett | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $744 | $792 |
| Median household income | $31,207 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kensett
| People | Kensett | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Kensett
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kensett since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 50. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 50 deaths and 346 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 White County
White County had 26,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,050 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Kensett itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Kensett
1 public school with 290 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENSETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 290 | 15.3 |
Towns near Kensett
- Judsonia, AR3.3 mi · 1,854 people · home $117,600
- Higginson, AR3.6 mi · 705 people · home $132,000
- Searcy, AR3.6 mi · 22,937 people · home $188,500
- Bald Knob, AR7.8 mi · 2,522 people · home $142,400
- McRae, AR12.1 mi · 616 people · home $99,400
- Pangburn, AR16.2 mi · 500 people · home $112,500
- Beebe, AR17.2 mi · 8,437 people · home $158,200
- Bradford, AR17.7 mi · 678 people · home $89,600
Kensett questions
Is Kensett, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kensett scores better for retirees than 79% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 28%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Kensett?
The median owner-occupied home in Kensett is valued at $90,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,207, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Kensett?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Kensett get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kensett since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)