The Town FilesDardanelle, Arkansas
City in Yell County · population 4,517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,600
- Household income
- $51,040
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 35.1
Dardanelle is a city of 4,517 people in Yell County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $138,600, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 78% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 75% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 71% of Arkansas towns.
How Dardanelle 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 Dardanelle is worth $138,600, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $51,040, which is more affordable than 51% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $984 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dardanelle | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,600 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $984 | $792 |
| Median household income | $51,040 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dardanelle
| People | Dardanelle | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Dardanelle
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dardanelle since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 26, 1976 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Yell County since 1996
Yell County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Yell County
Yell County had 6,547 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,516 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Dardanelle itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Dardanelle
4 public schools with 2,084 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARDANELLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 666 | 7.6 |
| DARDANELLE PRIMARY SCHOOL | K-3 | 620 | 17.2 |
| DARDANELLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 495 | 14.6 |
| DARDANELLE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 4-5 | 303 | 15.2 |
Towns near Dardanelle
- Russellville, AR3.8 mi · 28,940 people · home $172,400
- Pottsville, AR5.9 mi · 3,140 people · home $171,600
- Atkins, AR12.2 mi · 2,859 people · home $124,400
- Clarksville, AR23.7 mi · 9,381 people · home $164,800
- Morrilton, AR24.6 mi · 6,992 people · home $160,900
Dardanelle questions
Is Dardanelle, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dardanelle scores better for retirees than 41% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 31%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Dardanelle?
The median owner-occupied home in Dardanelle is valued at $138,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,040, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $984 a month.
What is the weather like in Dardanelle?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Dardanelle get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dardanelle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 26, 1976. 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)