The Town FilesEl Dorado, Arkansas
City in Union County · population 17,756 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,100
- Household income
- $49,244
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.6
El Dorado is a city of 17,756 people in Union County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $124,100, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 92% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 87% of Arkansas towns.
How El Dorado 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 El Dorado is worth $124,100, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $49,244, which is more affordable than 62% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $880 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | El Dorado | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $880 | $792 |
| Median household income | $49,244 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in El Dorado
| People | El Dorado | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 84.4% |
Weather in El Dorado
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Dorado since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 12, 2005 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 28, 1972.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 21, 2026 | Fire | FM-5673: Pine Tree Road Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 16,449 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,648 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in El Dorado itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in El Dorado
9 public schools with 4,657 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,220 | 11.7 |
| WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 586 | 14.3 |
| YOCUM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 575 | 14.4 |
| BARTON JR. HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 554 | 11.5 |
| HUGH GOODWIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 474 | 19.0 |
| NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 470 | 18.1 |
| PARKERS CHAPEL ELEM. SCHOOL | K-6 | 419 | 15.0 |
| PARKERS CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 359 | 6.1 |
| SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near El Dorado
- Camden, AR26.4 mi · 10,612 people · home $107,400
El Dorado questions
Is El Dorado, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Dorado scores better for retirees than 15% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 8%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in El Dorado?
The median owner-occupied home in El Dorado is valued at $124,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,244, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $880 a month.
What is the weather like in El Dorado?
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does El Dorado get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Dorado since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 12, 2005. 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)