The Town FilesWest Fork, Arkansas
City in Washington County · population 2,331 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,000
- Household income
- $77,566
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.5
West Fork is a city of 2,331 people in Washington County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $201,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for cycling than 87% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 82% of Arkansas towns.
How West Fork 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 West Fork is worth $201,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $77,566, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,095 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Fork | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,095 | $792 |
| Median household income | $77,566 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in West Fork
| People | West Fork | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in West Fork
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Fork since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1999 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 120,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in West Fork itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in West Fork
3 public schools with 778 students, about 6.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST FORK HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 273 | 3.1 |
| WEST FORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 263 | 13.2 |
| WEST FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 242 | 11.5 |
Towns near West Fork
- Greenland, AR4.3 mi · 1,213 people · home $228,000
- Prairie Grove, AR7.7 mi · 7,045 people · home $256,000
- Farmington, AR8.1 mi · 7,584 people · home $304,800
- Fayetteville, AR9.5 mi · 93,949 people · home $349,600
- Elkins, AR10.5 mi · 3,602 people · home $212,500
- Lincoln, AR13.3 mi · 2,294 people · home $168,900
- Johnson, AR13.8 mi · 3,609 people · home $312,900
- Goshen, AR15.3 mi · 2,102 people · home $670,200
West Fork questions
Is West Fork, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Fork scores better for retirees than 71% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 78%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in West Fork?
The median owner-occupied home in West Fork is valued at $201,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,566, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,095 a month.
What is the weather like in West Fork?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does West Fork get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Fork since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1999. 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)