The Town FilesBrinkley, Arkansas
City in Monroe County · population 2,700 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,000
- Household income
- $38,996
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 49.1
Brinkley is a city of 2,700 people in Monroe County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $94,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 84% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Arkansas towns.
How Brinkley 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 Brinkley is worth $94,000, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $38,996, which is more affordable than 66% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $608 a month. 58.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brinkley | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $608 | $792 |
| Median household income | $38,996 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Brinkley
| People | Brinkley | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 84.4% |
Weather in Brinkley
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brinkley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 29. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 192 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on January 22, 2012.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 27 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 |
| July 10, 2020 | Tornado | DR-4556: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 1,761 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,633 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Brinkley itself the ACS puts it at 16.7%.
Public schools in Brinkley
2 public schools with 389 students, about 6.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.B. PARTEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 222 | 12.3 |
| BRINKLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 167 | 4.0 |
Towns near Brinkley
- Forrest City, AR24.0 mi · 13,015 people · home $92,000
- Marianna, AR25.3 mi · 3,575 people · home $81,700
Brinkley questions
Is Brinkley, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brinkley scores better for retirees than 70% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 39%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Brinkley?
The median owner-occupied home in Brinkley is valued at $94,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,996, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $608 a month.
What is the weather like in Brinkley?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Brinkley get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brinkley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 21, 1952. 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)