The Town FilesSearcy, Arkansas
City in White County · population 22,937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,500
- Household income
- $52,170
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 32.4
Searcy is a city of 22,937 people in White County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $188,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 93% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Arkansas towns.
How Searcy 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 Searcy is worth $188,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $52,170, which is more affordable than 17% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $905 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Searcy | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $905 | $792 |
| Median household income | $52,170 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Searcy
| People | Searcy | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Searcy
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Searcy since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 50. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 54 deaths and 382 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in White County since 1996
White County has been included in 29 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 |
| 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 White County
White County had 26,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,050 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Searcy itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Searcy
9 public schools with 4,523 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEARCY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,208 | 8.6 |
| SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL | 4-6 | 879 | 15.7 |
| AHLF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 618 | 13.1 |
| MCRAE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 450 | 18.8 |
| SIDNEY DEENER ELEM. SCHOOL | PK-3 | 429 | 19.5 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 428 | 16.5 |
| RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 316 | 5.2 |
| RIVERVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 195 | 11.5 |
| ASU BEEBE REGIONAL CAREER CENTER - SEARCY | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Searcy
- Bald Knob, AR10.5 mi · 2,522 people · home $142,400
- Beebe, AR15.0 mi · 8,437 people · home $158,200
- Ward, AR20.1 mi · 6,052 people · home $189,100
- Austin, AR21.7 mi · 3,460 people · home $220,500
- Heber Springs, AR24.4 mi · 6,969 people · home $176,300
- Cabot, AR24.7 mi · 26,569 people · home $207,300
- Vilonia, AR29.4 mi · 4,288 people · home $232,700
Searcy questions
Is Searcy, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Searcy scores better for retirees than 40% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 12%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Searcy?
The median owner-occupied home in Searcy is valued at $188,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,170, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $905 a month.
What is the weather like in Searcy?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Searcy get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Searcy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 21, 1952. 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)