The Town FilesMarianna, Arkansas
City in Lee County · population 3,575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,700
- Household income
- $20,138
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.2
Marianna is a city of 3,575 people in Lee County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $81,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 91% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 80% of Arkansas towns.
How Marianna 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 Marianna is worth $81,700, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $20,138, which is more affordable than 8% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 30.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marianna | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,700 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $660 | $792 |
| Median household income | $20,138 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 30.1% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Marianna
| People | Marianna | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 56.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 29.6% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Marianna
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marianna since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 19, 1970 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 13, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 30, 2022.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 1,623 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,972 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Marianna itself the ACS puts it at 28.9%.
Public schools in Marianna
2 public schools with 681 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA STRONG LEARNING ACADEMY | PK-6 | 402 | 16.1 |
| LEE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 279 | 5.1 |
Towns near Marianna
- Forrest City, AR16.6 mi · 13,015 people · home $92,000
- Helena-West Helena, AR18.7 mi · 9,519 people · home $73,200
- Brinkley, AR25.3 mi · 2,700 people · home $94,000
Marianna questions
Is Marianna, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marianna scores better for retirees than 24% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 32%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Marianna?
The median owner-occupied home in Marianna is valued at $81,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,138, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in Marianna?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Marianna get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marianna since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 19, 1970. 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)