The Town FilesLamar, Arkansas
City in Johnson County · population 1,719 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,700
- Household income
- $50,568
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.5
Lamar is a city of 1,719 people in Johnson County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $161,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 84% of Arkansas towns.
How Lamar 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 Lamar is worth $161,700, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $50,568, which is more affordable than 29% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $548 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamar | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $548 | $792 |
| Median household income | $50,568 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lamar
| People | Lamar | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 32.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 84.4% |
Weather in Lamar
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 24, 2011 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 123 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 26 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 |
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 8,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,859 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Lamar itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Lamar
3 public schools with 1,193 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 532 | 15.6 |
| LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 360 | 8.0 |
| LAMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 301 | 13.1 |
Towns near Lamar
- Clarksville, AR4.9 mi · 9,381 people · home $164,800
- Knoxville, AR5.0 mi · 660 people · home $125,700
- London, AR11.7 mi · 936 people · home $99,800
- Hartman, AR13.2 mi · 516 people · home $127,500
- Coal Hill, AR15.2 mi · 820 people · home $104,700
- Dover, AR16.2 mi · 1,337 people · home $112,200
- Russellville, AR18.5 mi · 28,940 people · home $172,400
- Dardanelle, AR19.8 mi · 4,517 people · home $138,600
Lamar questions
Is Lamar, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamar scores better for retirees than 32% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 69%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Lamar?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamar is valued at $161,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,568, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $548 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamar?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.5 inches of snow.
Does Lamar get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 24, 2011. 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)