The Town FilesManila, Arkansas
City in Mississippi County · population 3,682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,000
- Household income
- $55,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 33.6
Manila is a city of 3,682 people in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $172,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks hipper than 97% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 93% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 92% of Arkansas towns.
How Manila 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 Manila is worth $172,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $55,792, which is more affordable than 33% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manila | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $711 | $792 |
| Median household income | $55,792 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Manila
| People | Manila | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Manila
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manila since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 16, 1998 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 40 deaths and 505 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 1967.
Severe weather in Mississippi County since 1996
Mississippi County has been included in 21 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 |
| December 23, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4633: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Mississippi County
Mississippi County had 20,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,605 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Manila itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Manila
2 public schools with 1,106 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MANILA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 613 | 18.0 |
| MANILA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 493 | 11.2 |
Towns near Manila
- Gosnell, AR12.3 mi · 2,910 people · home $98,700
- Blytheville, AR15.0 mi · 13,406 people · home $119,000
- Osceola, AR16.7 mi · 6,976 people · home $99,900
- Paragould, AR22.5 mi · 29,537 people · home $181,500
- Brookland, AR23.1 mi · 4,064 people · home $169,200
- Trumann, AR24.8 mi · 7,399 people · home $112,300
- Kennett, MO25.5 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
- Jonesboro, AR29.1 mi · 78,576 people · home $223,200
Manila questions
Is Manila, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manila scores better for retirees than 19% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 30%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Manila?
The median owner-occupied home in Manila is valued at $172,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,792, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Manila?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Manila get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manila since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 16, 1998. 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)