The Town FilesMarvell, Arkansas
City in Phillips County · population 855 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $58,200
- Household income
- $51,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.5
Marvell is a city of 855 people in Phillips County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $58,200, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 89% of Arkansas towns.
How Marvell 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 Marvell is worth $58,200, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $51,875, which is more affordable than 100% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $641 a month. 46.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marvell | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,200 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $641 | $792 |
| Median household income | $51,875 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.1% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.8% | — |
Who lives in Marvell
| People | Marvell | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 84.4% |
Weather in Marvell
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marvell since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 29, 1956 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 2024.
Severe weather in Phillips County since 1996
Phillips County has been included in 18 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 |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| July 10, 2020 | Tornado | DR-4556: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Phillips County
Phillips County had 4,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,596 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in Marvell itself the ACS puts it at 25.5%.
Public schools in Marvell
2 public schools with 242 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARVELL-ELAINE ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-6 | 142 | 11.8 |
| MARVELL-ELAINE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 100 | 10.0 |
Towns near Marvell
- Helena-West Helena, AR16.9 mi · 9,519 people · home $73,200
- Marianna, AR17.2 mi · 3,575 people · home $81,700
- Elaine, AR17.5 mi · 509 people · home $64,800
- Friars Point, MS20.6 mi · 896 people · home $56,400
- Clarendon, AR24.2 mi · 1,526 people · home $65,900
- Brinkley, AR27.8 mi · 2,700 people · home $94,000
- Palestine, AR28.6 mi · 506 people · home $67,900
Marvell questions
Is Marvell, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marvell scores better for retirees than 89% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 48%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Marvell?
The median owner-occupied home in Marvell is valued at $58,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,875, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $641 a month.
What is the weather like in Marvell?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Marvell get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marvell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 29, 1956. 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)