The Town FilesMcRae, Arkansas
City in White County · population 616 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,400
- Household income
- $35,132
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 42.5
McRae is a city of 616 people in White County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $99,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better transit than 71% of Arkansas towns.
How McRae 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 McRae is worth $99,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $35,132, which is more affordable than 45% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | McRae | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $668 | $792 |
| Median household income | $35,132 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McRae
| People | McRae | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.2% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in McRae
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McRae since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 2003 about 3.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 121 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 29 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in White County
White County had 26,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,050 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in McRae itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near McRae
- Beebe, AR5.1 mi · 8,437 people · home $158,200
- Higginson, AR8.5 mi · 705 people · home $132,000
- Ward, AR10.1 mi · 6,052 people · home $189,100
- Searcy, AR10.2 mi · 22,937 people · home $188,500
- Austin, AR11.9 mi · 3,460 people · home $220,500
- Kensett, AR12.1 mi · 1,400 people · home $90,400
- Cabot, AR14.9 mi · 26,569 people · home $207,300
- Judsonia, AR15.3 mi · 1,854 people · home $117,600
McRae questions
Is McRae, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McRae scores better for retirees than 5% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 49%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in McRae?
The median owner-occupied home in McRae is valued at $99,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,132, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in McRae?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does McRae get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McRae since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 2003. 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)