The Town FilesPrairie Grove, Arkansas
City in Washington County · population 7,045 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,000
- Household income
- $70,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 31.7
Prairie Grove is a city of 7,045 people in Washington County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $256,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 94% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 89% of Arkansas towns.
How Prairie Grove 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 Prairie Grove is worth $256,000, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $70,701, which is more affordable than 17% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 64.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prairie Grove | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,000 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $968 | $792 |
| Median household income | $70,701 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Prairie Grove
| People | Prairie Grove | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.7 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Prairie Grove
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prairie Grove since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1999 about 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 5, 2009.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Washington County
Washington County had 120,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Prairie Grove itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Prairie Grove
4 public schools with 2,216 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRAIRIE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 801 | 20.5 |
| PRAIRIE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 595 | 7.3 |
| PRAIRIE GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 4-6 | 501 | 20.0 |
| PRAIRIE GROVE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 319 | 10.3 |
Towns near Prairie Grove
- Farmington, AR4.5 mi · 7,584 people · home $304,800
- Fayetteville, AR9.7 mi · 93,949 people · home $349,600
- Johnson, AR12.5 mi · 3,609 people · home $312,900
- Tontitown, AR13.0 mi · 4,301 people · home $430,500
- Elkins, AR15.8 mi · 3,602 people · home $212,500
- Springdale, AR16.4 mi · 84,161 people · home $261,800
- Siloam Springs, AR18.7 mi · 17,287 people · home $221,700
- Cave Springs, AR20.4 mi · 5,495 people · home $460,300
Prairie Grove questions
Is Prairie Grove, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prairie Grove scores better for retirees than 42% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 35%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.7).
How much does a house cost in Prairie Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Prairie Grove is valued at $256,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,701, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Prairie Grove?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Prairie Grove get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prairie Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1999. 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)