The Town FilesParagould, Arkansas
City in Greene County · population 29,537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,500
- Household income
- $56,980
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 36.2
Paragould is a city of 29,537 people in Greene County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $181,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Arkansas towns, better transit than 88% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 83% of Arkansas towns.
How Paragould 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 Paragould is worth $181,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $56,980, which is more affordable than 29% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paragould | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $925 | $792 |
| Median household income | $56,980 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Paragould
| People | Paragould | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 84.4% |
Weather in Paragould
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paragould since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 28, 2020 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Greene County since 1996
Greene County has been included in 28 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 |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Greene County
Greene County had 15,663 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,490 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Paragould itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Paragould
13 public schools with 6,790 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARAGOULD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 864 | 9.6 |
| GREENE CTY TECH HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 801 | 11.1 |
| GREENE CTY TECH PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-1 | 706 | 16.4 |
| PARAGOULD PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-1 | 631 | 15.0 |
| GREENE CTY TECH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 8-9 | 550 | 13.4 |
| GREENE CTY TECH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-3 | 528 | 18.2 |
| GREENE CTY TECH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 4-5 | 522 | 16.3 |
| GREENE CTY TECH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-7 | 520 | 16.3 |
| OAK GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 504 | 19.4 |
| PARAGOULD JUNIOR HIGH | 7-8 | 468 | 12.6 |
| OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-4 | 259 | 19.9 |
| WOODROW WILSON ELEM. SCHOOL | 2-4 | 226 | 16.1 |
Towns near Paragould
- Brookland, AR11.1 mi · 4,064 people · home $169,200
- Jonesboro, AR18.6 mi · 78,576 people · home $223,200
- Manila, AR22.5 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
- Walnut Ridge, AR24.5 mi · 5,384 people · home $117,900
- Corning, AR25.3 mi · 3,227 people · home $89,500
- Hoxie, AR25.9 mi · 2,598 people · home $87,600
- Trumann, AR25.9 mi · 7,399 people · home $112,300
- Kennett, MO28.9 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
Paragould questions
Is Paragould, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paragould scores better for retirees than 12% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 9%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Paragould?
The median owner-occupied home in Paragould is valued at $181,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,980, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Paragould?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.5 inches of snow.
Does Paragould get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paragould since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 28, 2020. 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)