The Town FilesStephens, Arkansas
City in Ouachita County · population 770 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,700
- Household income
- $61,518
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.8
Stephens is a city of 770 people in Ouachita County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $70,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 98% of Arkansas towns, better for cycling than 94% of Arkansas towns.
How Stephens 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 Stephens is worth $70,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $61,518, which is more affordable than 100% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $446 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stephens | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $446 | $792 |
| Median household income | $61,518 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.7% | — |
Who lives in Stephens
| People | Stephens | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.8% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Stephens
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 56.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephens since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 19, 1957 about 3.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 14, 2008.
Severe weather in Ouachita County since 1996
Ouachita County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2026 | Fire | FM-5676: Bunker Fire |
| 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 4, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4700: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Ouachita County
Ouachita County had 7,057 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,303 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Stephens itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Stephens
- Magnolia, AR13.5 mi · 11,162 people · home $169,300
- Waldo, AR13.9 mi · 1,151 people · home $61,800
- Camden, AR16.3 mi · 10,612 people · home $107,400
- Smackover, AR19.9 mi · 1,630 people · home $118,600
- East Camden, AR22.7 mi · 798 people · home $110,400
- Norphlet, AR24.5 mi · 766 people · home $120,800
- Stamps, AR25.1 mi · 1,258 people · home $67,100
- El Dorado, AR27.3 mi · 17,756 people · home $124,100
Stephens questions
Is Stephens, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stephens scores better for retirees than 31% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 73%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Stephens?
The median owner-occupied home in Stephens is valued at $70,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,518, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $446 a month.
What is the weather like in Stephens?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Stephens get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 19, 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)