The Town FilesRoland, Arkansas
Community in Pulaski County · population 820 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $340,800
- Household income
- $175,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 43.0
Roland is a community of 820 people in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $340,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 98% of Arkansas towns, more upscale than 98% of Arkansas towns.
- #1 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Arkansas
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #6 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #7 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Arkansas
- #9 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Arkansas
- #47 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
How Roland 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 Roland is worth $340,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $175,125, which is more affordable than 90% of Arkansas towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roland | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $340,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | — | $792 |
| Median household income | $175,125 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Roland
| People | Roland | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 84.4% |
Weather in Roland
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 55.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roland since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2014 about 3.5 miles from the town center and killed 12. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 19 deaths and 241 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 13, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 111 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on January 21, 1999.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 33 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 Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 261,631 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,505 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Roland itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Roland
- Mayflower, AR6.8 mi · 1,984 people · home $184,600
- Maumelle, AR7.5 mi · 19,251 people · home $291,700
- Conway, AR12.2 mi · 64,134 people · home $252,100
- Cammack Village, AR12.9 mi · 778 people · home $323,600
- Avilla, AR14.9 mi · 1,325 people · home $363,200
- Little Rock, AR15.2 mi · 202,591 people · home $236,400
- Gibson, AR15.7 mi · 4,111 people · home $157,800
- Perryville, AR17.9 mi · 1,373 people · home $133,600
Roland questions
Is Roland, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roland scores better for retirees than 98% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 97%. 7.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Roland?
The median owner-occupied home in Roland is valued at $340,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $175,125, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Roland?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Roland get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2014. 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)