The Town FilesPine Bluff, Arkansas
City in Jefferson County · population 41,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,400
- Household income
- $42,718
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.5
Pine Bluff is a city of 41,253 people in Jefferson County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $89,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better transit than 95% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 93% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 89% of Arkansas towns.
How Pine Bluff 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 Pine Bluff is worth $89,400, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $42,718, which is more affordable than 82% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 51.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pine Bluff | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $792 |
| Median household income | $42,718 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Pine Bluff
| People | Pine Bluff | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.0% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 84.4% |
Weather in Pine Bluff
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine Bluff since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 14, 1983 about 0.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 10, 2018.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 25 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 |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4700: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| July 10, 2020 | Tornado | DR-4556: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 25,233 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,569 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Pine Bluff itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Pine Bluff
16 public schools with 5,742 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PINE BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 780 | 10.7 |
| PINE BLUFF JR. HIGH | 7-9 | 698 | 11.8 |
| WATSON CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 639 | 13.6 |
| COLEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-5 | 469 | 14.7 |
| FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY HAZEL ST PINE BLUFF (charter) | K-5 | 458 | 17.0 |
| THIRTY-FOURTH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 403 | 16.8 |
| WATSON CHAPEL JR. HIGH SCHOOL | 6-8 | 392 | 14.5 |
| SOUTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 390 | 16.3 |
| MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 389 | 15.6 |
| BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 282 | 13.4 |
| EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-1 | 225 | 16.1 |
| FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY DOWNTOWN PINE BLUFF (charter) | K-2 | 224 | 14.9 |
Towns near Pine Bluff
- White Hall, AR6.5 mi · 5,581 people · home $212,700
- Sheridan, AR25.5 mi · 4,920 people · home $187,700
- East End, AR29.6 mi · 7,137 people · home $223,900
Pine Bluff questions
Is Pine Bluff, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pine Bluff scores better for retirees than 14% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 14%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Pine Bluff?
The median owner-occupied home in Pine Bluff is valued at $89,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,718, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Pine Bluff?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.5 inches of snow.
Does Pine Bluff get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine Bluff since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 14, 1983. 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)