The Town FilesDumas, Arkansas
City in Desha County · population 4,001 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,400
- Household income
- $34,787
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.2
Dumas is a city of 4,001 people in Desha County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $84,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600).
How Dumas 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 Dumas is worth $84,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $34,787, which is more affordable than 66% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dumas | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $718 | $792 |
| Median household income | $34,787 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Dumas
| People | Dumas | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.9% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 84.4% |
Weather in Dumas
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 35.4°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dumas since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1968 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 10, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Desha County since 1996
Desha 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 |
| April 4, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4700: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Desha County
Desha County had 4,132 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,354 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Dumas itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Public schools in Dumas
4 public schools with 947 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUMAS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 305 | 8.2 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 221 | 15.8 |
| DUMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 215 | 11.3 |
| REED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 206 | 9.0 |
Towns near Dumas
- McGehee, AR18.4 mi · 3,849 people · home $98,800
- Monticello, AR25.1 mi · 8,442 people · home $137,500
- DeWitt, AR29.2 mi · 3,056 people · home $75,700
Dumas questions
Is Dumas, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dumas scores better for retirees than 16% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 41%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Dumas?
The median owner-occupied home in Dumas is valued at $84,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,787, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Dumas?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 35.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Dumas get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dumas since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1968. 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)