The Town FilesMena, Arkansas
City in Polk County · population 5,589 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,900
- Household income
- $47,428
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 42.7
Mena is a city of 5,589 people in Polk County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $132,900, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 90% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 82% of Arkansas towns.
How Mena 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 Mena is worth $132,900, close to the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $47,428, which is more affordable than 45% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $639 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mena | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $639 | $792 |
| Median household income | $47,428 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Mena
| People | Mena | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Mena
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 61.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.0 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mena since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 9, 2009 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 13, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Polk County
Polk County had 5,837 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,869 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Mena itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Mena
7 public schools with 2,292 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MENA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 493 | 7.0 |
| HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEM. SCHOOL | 3-5 | 454 | 18.9 |
| LOUISE DURHAM ELEM. SCHOOL | K-2 | 370 | 16.8 |
| MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 365 | 13.0 |
| ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 343 | 16.3 |
| ACORN HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 267 | 5.0 |
| UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mena
- Waldron, AR23.6 mi · 3,386 people · home $105,300
Mena questions
Is Mena, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mena scores better for retirees than 74% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 61%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Mena?
The median owner-occupied home in Mena is valued at $132,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,428, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $639 a month.
What is the weather like in Mena?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.4 inches of precipitation a year and 4.0 inches of snow.
Does Mena get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 9, 2009. 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)