The Town FilesMonticello, Arkansas
City in Drew County · population 8,442 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $27,238
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 35.3
Monticello is a city of 8,442 people in Drew County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $137,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 95% of Arkansas towns.
How Monticello 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 Monticello is worth $137,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $27,238, which is more affordable than 3% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $707 a month. 46.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monticello | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $707 | $792 |
| Median household income | $27,238 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Monticello
| People | Monticello | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Monticello
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 23, 1957 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 27, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 21, 1996.
Severe weather in Drew County since 1996
Drew County has been included in 20 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 |
| April 4, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4700: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| July 10, 2020 | Tornado | DR-4556: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Drew County
Drew County had 6,337 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,295 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Monticello itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Monticello
8 public schools with 2,804 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 506 | 11.8 |
| DREW CENTRAL ELEM. SCHOOL | K-4 | 489 | 14.8 |
| MONTICELLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 444 | 16.4 |
| MONTICELLO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 355 | 13.1 |
| DREW CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 346 | 13.8 |
| MONTICELLO INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 338 | 14.1 |
| DREW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 326 | 11.6 |
| MONTICELLO OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Monticello
- Warren, AR15.8 mi · 5,453 people · home $76,700
- McGehee, AR22.9 mi · 3,849 people · home $98,800
- Dumas, AR25.1 mi · 4,001 people · home $84,400
- Hamburg, AR27.6 mi · 2,536 people · home $77,100
Monticello questions
Is Monticello, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monticello scores better for retirees than 77% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 15%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Monticello?
The median owner-occupied home in Monticello is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,238, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $707 a month.
What is the weather like in Monticello?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Monticello get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 23, 1957. 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)