The Town FilesGreen Forest, Arkansas
City in Carroll County · population 2,972 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,200
- Household income
- $49,918
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 36.0
Green Forest is a city of 2,972 people in Carroll County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $143,200, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better transit than 99% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 90% of Arkansas towns.
How Green Forest 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 Green Forest is worth $143,200, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $49,918, which is more affordable than 41% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $707 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Green Forest | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,200 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $707 | $792 |
| Median household income | $49,918 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Green Forest
| People | Green Forest | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 35.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 84.4% |
Weather in Green Forest
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 44.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Forest since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 26, 1973 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 10,760 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,303 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Green Forest itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Green Forest
3 public schools with 1,422 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREEN FOREST INTERMED SCHOOL | 4-8 | 514 | 13.2 |
| GREEN FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 474 | 15.8 |
| GREEN FOREST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 434 | 6.3 |
Towns near Green Forest
- Berryville, AR8.0 mi · 5,682 people · home $165,400
- Harrison, AR18.6 mi · 13,069 people · home $169,600
- Holiday Island, AR19.9 mi · 2,533 people · home $227,100
- Branson, MO20.7 mi · 12,638 people · home $251,000
- Hollister, MO21.8 mi · 4,583 people · home $163,600
- Huntsville, AR23.5 mi · 2,879 people · home $163,600
Green Forest questions
Is Green Forest, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Green Forest scores better for retirees than 22% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 16%. 8.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Green Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Green Forest is valued at $143,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,918, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $707 a month.
What is the weather like in Green Forest?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Green Forest get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 26, 1973. 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)