The Town FilesCorning, Arkansas
City in Clay County · population 3,227 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,500
- Household income
- $50,408
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.2
Corning is a city of 3,227 people in Clay County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $89,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 79% of Arkansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Arkansas towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Arkansas
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Arkansas
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Cheapest Homes
- #15 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #15 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in Arkansas With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How Corning 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 Corning is worth $89,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $50,408, which is more affordable than 92% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $704 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Corning | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $704 | $792 |
| Median household income | $50,408 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Corning
| People | Corning | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in Corning
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.6 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corning since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on January 21, 1999 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 25, 2006.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 25 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 |
| 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 Clay County
Clay County had 3,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Corning itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Corning
3 public schools with 794 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 343 | 18.1 |
| CORNING MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 226 | 13.3 |
| CORNING HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 225 | 4.9 |
Towns near Corning
- Piggott, AR21.5 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
- Pocahontas, AR23.9 mi · 7,371 people · home $120,000
- Paragould, AR25.3 mi · 29,537 people · home $181,500
- Poplar Bluff, MO25.9 mi · 16,225 people · home $119,800
Corning questions
Is Corning, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Corning scores better for retirees than 95% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 58%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Corning?
The median owner-occupied home in Corning is valued at $89,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,408, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $704 a month.
What is the weather like in Corning?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.6 inches of snow.
Does Corning get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corning since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on January 21, 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)