The Town FilesLavaca, Arkansas
City in Sebastian County · population 2,450 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,300
- Household income
- $80,924
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 32.3
Lavaca is a city of 2,450 people in Sebastian County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $162,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for families than 95% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 88% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 78% of Arkansas towns.
How Lavaca 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 Lavaca is worth $162,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $80,924, which is more affordable than 86% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $923 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lavaca | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,300 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $923 | $792 |
| Median household income | $80,924 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lavaca
| People | Lavaca | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 31.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 84.4% |
Weather in Lavaca
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lavaca since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 19, 1954 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 26, 2000.
Severe weather in Sebastian County since 1996
Sebastian County has been included in 21 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 Sebastian County
Sebastian County had 67,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,173 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lavaca itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Lavaca
3 public schools with 784 students, about 7.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAVACA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 287 | 13.0 |
| LAVACA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 268 | 4.1 |
| LAVACA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 229 | 12.1 |
Towns near Lavaca
- Barling, AR5.2 mi · 4,782 people · home $140,000
- Kibler, AR7.2 mi · 1,005 people · home $210,100
- Charleston, AR8.0 mi · 2,588 people · home $156,300
- Greenwood, AR8.8 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Fort Smith, AR10.7 mi · 89,142 people · home $178,100
- Alma, AR11.3 mi · 5,825 people · home $233,600
- Dyer, AR11.6 mi · 772 people · home $230,300
- Van Buren, AR12.8 mi · 23,218 people · home $181,500
Lavaca questions
Is Lavaca, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lavaca scores better for retirees than 33% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 40%. 10.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.3).
How much does a house cost in Lavaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Lavaca is valued at $162,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,924, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $923 a month.
What is the weather like in Lavaca?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Lavaca get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lavaca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 19, 1954. 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)