The Town FilesMelbourne, Arkansas
City in Izard County · population 1,830 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,800
- Household income
- $39,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.0
Melbourne is a city of 1,830 people in Izard County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $172,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 89% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Arkansas towns.
How Melbourne 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 Melbourne is worth $172,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $39,469, which is more affordable than 7% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $601 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melbourne | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $601 | $792 |
| Median household income | $39,469 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Melbourne
| People | Melbourne | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Melbourne
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melbourne since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 5, 2008 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Izard County since 1996
Izard County has been included in 31 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 |
| May 8, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4865: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Izard County
Izard County had 2,949 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,611 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Melbourne itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Melbourne
3 public schools with 768 students, about 7.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELBOURNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 398 | 10.0 |
| MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 370 | 5.7 |
| OZARKA COLLEGE TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Melbourne
- Oxford, AR10.2 mi · 573 people · home $97,100
- Horseshoe Bend, AR13.3 mi · 2,440 people · home $128,500
- Calico Rock, AR14.2 mi · 888 people · home $93,800
- Mountain View, AR18.9 mi · 2,877 people · home $203,900
- Ash Flat, AR19.4 mi · 1,137 people · home $94,000
- Cave City, AR20.3 mi · 1,922 people · home $120,700
- Salem, AR21.4 mi · 1,566 people · home $105,900
- Cherokee Village, AR23.4 mi · 4,780 people · home $94,600
Melbourne questions
Is Melbourne, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melbourne scores better for retirees than 81% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 55%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Melbourne?
The median owner-occupied home in Melbourne is valued at $172,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,469, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $601 a month.
What is the weather like in Melbourne?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does Melbourne get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melbourne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008. 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)