The Town FilesMalvern, Arkansas
City in Hot Spring County · population 10,867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,500
- Household income
- $46,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.4
Malvern is a city of 10,867 people in Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $104,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better transit than 93% of Arkansas towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 72% of Arkansas towns.
How Malvern 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 Malvern is worth $104,500, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $46,250, which is more affordable than 72% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 50.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Malvern | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $764 | $792 |
| Median household income | $46,250 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Malvern
| People | Malvern | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 84.4% |
Weather in Malvern
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 57.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malvern since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 14, 2023.
Severe weather in Hot Spring County since 1996
Hot Spring County has been included in 20 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 |
| May 8, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4865: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Hot Spring County
Hot Spring County had 7,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,229 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Malvern itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Malvern
10 public schools with 3,464 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MALVERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 680 | 14.8 |
| MALVERN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 575 | 7.8 |
| MAGNET COVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 368 | 17.5 |
| GLEN ROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 332 | 17.5 |
| GLEN ROSE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 327 | 15.6 |
| MAGNET COVE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 311 | 5.7 |
| GLEN ROSE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 301 | 5.3 |
| MALVERN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 287 | 11.5 |
| WILSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 283 | 17.7 |
| ASU THREE RIVERS CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Malvern
- Haskell, AR13.9 mi · 3,956 people · home $160,600
- Hot Springs, AR15.3 mi · 37,930 people · home $165,500
- Rockwell, AR18.9 mi · 4,548 people · home $289,800
- Benton, AR20.0 mi · 35,014 people · home $212,700
- Piney, AR20.5 mi · 5,238 people · home $134,400
- Hot Springs Village, AR21.4 mi · 15,861 people · home $272,000
- Sheridan, AR21.9 mi · 4,920 people · home $187,700
- Arkadelphia, AR22.2 mi · 10,380 people · home $179,300
Malvern questions
Is Malvern, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Malvern scores better for retirees than 45% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 38%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Malvern?
The median owner-occupied home in Malvern is valued at $104,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,250, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Malvern?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Malvern get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malvern since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)