The Town FilesWest Memphis, Arkansas
City in Crittenden County · population 24,520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,100
- Household income
- $42,674
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 34.1
West Memphis is a city of 24,520 people in Crittenden County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $120,100, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 95% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Arkansas towns.
How West Memphis 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 Memphis is worth $120,100, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $42,674, which is more affordable than 45% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $870 a month. 46.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Memphis | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $870 | $792 |
| Median household income | $42,674 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.1% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in West Memphis
| People | West Memphis | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in West Memphis
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Memphis since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 14, 1987 about 1.7 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 26, 2009.
Severe weather in Crittenden County since 1996
Crittenden County has been included in 21 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 |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Crittenden County
Crittenden County had 16,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,790 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in West Memphis itself the ACS puts it at 14.5%.
Public schools in West Memphis
11 public schools with 5,469 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE ACADEMIES OF WEST MEMPHIS CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | 10-12 | 944 | 7.5 |
| MARION VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET SCHOOL | K-6 | 717 | 17.5 |
| WONDER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 552 | 11.3 |
| FAULK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 546 | 18.2 |
| JACKSON/WONDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 541 | 17.5 |
| BRAGG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 514 | 18.4 |
| RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 507 | 16.9 |
| WEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 471 | 11.8 |
| MADDUX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 413 | 16.5 |
| WEAVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 264 | 14.7 |
| ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY?MIDSOUTH TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near West Memphis
- Marion, AR3.8 mi · 13,752 people · home $212,400
- Memphis, TN13.3 mi · 633,104 people · home $169,000
- Lynchburg, MS14.0 mi · 2,466 people · home $222,300
- Walls, MS15.6 mi · 1,351 people · home $193,300
- Turrell, AR16.1 mi · 517 people · home $67,900
- Horn Lake, MS16.1 mi · 26,736 people · home $171,400
- Earle, AR17.2 mi · 1,831 people · home $87,900
- Southaven, MS18.6 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
West Memphis questions
Is West Memphis, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Memphis scores better for retirees than 2% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 2%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in West Memphis?
The median owner-occupied home in West Memphis is valued at $120,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,674, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $870 a month.
What is the weather like in West Memphis?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does West Memphis get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Memphis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 14, 1987. 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)