The Town FilesBlytheville, Arkansas
City in Mississippi County · population 13,406 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,000
- Household income
- $47,865
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 42.3
Blytheville is a city of 13,406 people in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $119,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Arkansas towns.
How Blytheville 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 Blytheville is worth $119,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,865, which is more affordable than 62% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 50.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blytheville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $792 |
| Median household income | $47,865 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.3% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Blytheville
| People | Blytheville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Blytheville
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blytheville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 228 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 2, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Mississippi County since 1996
Mississippi 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 |
| December 23, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4633: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Mississippi County
Mississippi County had 20,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,605 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Blytheville itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Blytheville
7 public schools with 1,800 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLYTHEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 411 | 9.1 |
| BLYTHEVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 341 | 17.1 |
| BLYTHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 326 | 17.2 |
| KIPP: BLYTHEVILLE COLLEGE PREP (charter) | K-6 | 305 | 20.3 |
| BLYTHEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 191 | 11.9 |
| KIPP BLYTHEVILLE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 7-12 | 133 | 4.2 |
| BLYTHEVILLE CHICKASAW PREPARATORY ACADEMY (BCPA) | 6-6 | 93 | 15.5 |
Towns near Blytheville
- Gosnell, AR4.1 mi · 2,910 people · home $98,700
- Manila, AR15.0 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
- Osceola, AR17.5 mi · 6,976 people · home $99,900
- Caruthersville, MO21.7 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Kennett, MO22.6 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
- Ripley, TN24.5 mi · 7,800 people · home $154,900
- Covington, TN29.2 mi · 8,663 people · home $185,900
Blytheville questions
Is Blytheville, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blytheville scores better for retirees than 21% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 13%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Blytheville?
The median owner-occupied home in Blytheville is valued at $119,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,865, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Blytheville?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Blytheville get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blytheville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)