The Town FilesVan Buren, Arkansas
City in Crawford County · population 23,218 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,500
- Household income
- $61,149
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 36.5
Van Buren is a city of 23,218 people in Crawford County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $181,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for cycling than 90% of Arkansas towns, more walkable than 84% of Arkansas towns.
How Van Buren 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 Van Buren is worth $181,500, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $61,149, which is more affordable than 37% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $847 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Buren | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,500 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $847 | $792 |
| Median household income | $61,149 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Van Buren
| People | Van Buren | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Van Buren
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1960 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 159 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 165 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 5, 1999.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 26 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 |
| 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 Crawford County
Crawford County had 19,290 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,778 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Van Buren itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Van Buren
10 public schools with 5,704 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN BUREN HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 1,228 | 10.1 |
| NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 739 | 17.2 |
| BUTTERFIELD TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOO | 6-8 | 558 | 14.3 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 489 | 18.1 |
| VAN BUREN FRESHMAN ACADEMY | 9-9 | 470 | 13.4 |
| JAMES R. TATE ELEM. SCHOOL | PK-5 | 466 | 17.3 |
| OLIVER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 463 | 19.3 |
| KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 443 | 16.4 |
| PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 436 | 19.0 |
| RENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 412 | 18.7 |
Towns near Van Buren
- Fort Smith, AR7.1 mi · 89,142 people · home $178,100
- Alma, AR8.4 mi · 5,825 people · home $233,600
- Roland, OK9.1 mi · 3,316 people · home $139,800
- Barling, AR9.4 mi · 4,782 people · home $140,000
- Muldrow, OK14.1 mi · 3,272 people · home $114,300
- Pocola, OK15.2 mi · 4,255 people · home $151,100
- Greenwood, AR17.8 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Charleston, AR20.3 mi · 2,588 people · home $156,300
Van Buren questions
Is Van Buren, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Buren scores better for retirees than 31% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 21%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Buren is valued at $181,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,149, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $847 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Buren?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Van Buren get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1960. 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)