The Town FilesParkin, Arkansas
City in Cross County · population 794 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $43,500
- Household income
- $23,942
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 55.1
Parkin is a city of 794 people in Cross County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $43,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks quieter than 90% of Arkansas towns.
How Parkin 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 Parkin is worth $43,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $23,942, which is more affordable than 92% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $512 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parkin | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $43,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $512 | $792 |
| Median household income | $23,942 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Parkin
| People | Parkin | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.1% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.0% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Parkin
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 50.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkin since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2023 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 2001.
Severe weather in Cross County since 1996
Cross County has been included in 24 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 2, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4698: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Cross County
Cross County had 4,761 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,359 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Parkin itself the ACS puts it at 20.8%.
Towns near Parkin
- Earle, AR5.1 mi · 1,831 people · home $87,900
- Wynne, AR13.4 mi · 8,314 people · home $141,100
- Cherry Valley, AR15.1 mi · 575 people · home $77,500
- Turrell, AR17.8 mi · 517 people · home $67,900
- Tyronza, AR19.2 mi · 716 people · home $91,800
- Madison, AR19.6 mi · 759 people · home $120,400
- Marked Tree, AR19.8 mi · 2,286 people · home $96,200
- Marion, AR20.0 mi · 13,752 people · home $212,400
Parkin questions
Is Parkin, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parkin scores better for retirees than 65% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 90%. 31.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.1).
How much does a house cost in Parkin?
The median owner-occupied home in Parkin is valued at $43,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $23,942, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $512 a month.
What is the weather like in Parkin?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Parkin get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2023. 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)