The Town FilesFayetteville, Arkansas
City in Washington County · population 93,949 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,600
- Household income
- $62,695
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 28.8
Fayetteville is a city of 93,949 people in Washington County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $349,600, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 98% of Arkansas towns.
How Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville is worth $349,600, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $62,695, which is more affordable than 2% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,065 a month. 41.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fayetteville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,600 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,065 | $792 |
| Median household income | $62,695 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Fayetteville
| People | Fayetteville | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.0% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 84.4% |
Weather in Fayetteville
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 30, 2022 about 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 59 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 149 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 4, 2020.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 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 |
| 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 Washington County
Washington County had 120,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Fayetteville itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Fayetteville
19 public schools with 10,770 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAYETTEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,599 | 13.8 |
| MCNAIR MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 761 | 18.6 |
| RAMAY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 721 | 13.4 |
| WOODLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 713 | 12.7 |
| HOLCOMB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 578 | 18.1 |
| VANDERGRIFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 573 | 18.5 |
| OWL CREEK SCHOOL | K-6 | 561 | 19.3 |
| BUTTERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 560 | 20.0 |
| HAPPY HOLLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 513 | 19.7 |
| HAAS HALL ACADEMY (charter) | 7-12 | 499 | 18.5 |
| ROOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 465 | 17.9 |
| HOLT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 449 | 16.6 |
Towns near Fayetteville
- Johnson, AR4.3 mi · 3,609 people · home $312,900
- Farmington, AR5.4 mi · 7,584 people · home $304,800
- Tontitown, AR7.9 mi · 4,301 people · home $430,500
- Springdale, AR8.3 mi · 84,161 people · home $261,800
- Elkins, AR8.8 mi · 3,602 people · home $212,500
- Prairie Grove, AR9.7 mi · 7,045 people · home $256,000
- Lowell, AR12.8 mi · 9,839 people · home $284,200
- Cave Springs, AR14.4 mi · 5,495 people · home $460,300
Fayetteville questions
Is Fayetteville, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fayetteville scores better for retirees than 11% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 1%. 9.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in Fayetteville?
The median owner-occupied home in Fayetteville is valued at $349,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,695, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $1,065 a month.
What is the weather like in Fayetteville?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Fayetteville get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 30, 2022. 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)