The Town FilesSouthside, Arkansas
City in Independence County · population 4,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,300
- Household income
- $65,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.5
Southside is a city of 4,279 people in Independence County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $151,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 75% of Arkansas towns.
How Southside 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 Southside is worth $151,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $65,655, which is more affordable than 72% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southside | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,300 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $843 | $792 |
| Median household income | $65,655 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Southside
| People | Southside | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in Southside
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southside since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 15, 1984 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2019.
Severe weather in Independence County since 1996
Independence County has been included in 31 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 8, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4865: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 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 Independence County
Independence County had 17,612 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,642 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Southside itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Towns near Southside
- Batesville, AR3.4 mi · 11,191 people · home $163,600
- Newport, AR23.3 mi · 8,005 people · home $162,600
- Heber Springs, AR27.1 mi · 6,969 people · home $176,300
- Bald Knob, AR28.4 mi · 2,522 people · home $142,400
- Mountain View, AR28.6 mi · 2,877 people · home $203,900
Southside questions
Is Southside, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southside scores better for retirees than 12% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 24%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Southside?
The median owner-occupied home in Southside is valued at $151,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,655, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Southside?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Southside get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 15, 1984. 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)