The Town FilesMcGehee, Arkansas
City in Desha County · population 3,849 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,800
- Household income
- $36,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.4
McGehee is a city of 3,849 people in Desha County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $98,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks hipper than 96% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 81% of Arkansas towns.
How McGehee 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 McGehee is worth $98,800, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $36,875, which is more affordable than 51% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $784 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | McGehee | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $784 | $792 |
| Median household income | $36,875 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McGehee
| People | McGehee | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in McGehee
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 56.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McGehee since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 24, 2001 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in Desha County since 1996
Desha 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 |
| April 4, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4700: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Desha County
Desha County had 4,132 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,354 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in McGehee itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in McGehee
3 public schools with 1,046 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCGEHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 455 | 12.0 |
| MCGEHEE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 324 | 12.5 |
| CONNER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 267 | 12.7 |
Towns near McGehee
- Dumas, AR18.4 mi · 4,001 people · home $84,400
- Monticello, AR22.9 mi · 8,442 people · home $137,500
- Greenville, MS26.0 mi · 29,670 people · home $103,800
McGehee questions
Is McGehee, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McGehee scores better for retirees than 60% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 44%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in McGehee?
The median owner-occupied home in McGehee is valued at $98,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,875, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $784 a month.
What is the weather like in McGehee?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does McGehee get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McGehee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 24, 2001. 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)