The Town FilesWalnut Ridge, Arkansas
City in Lawrence County · population 5,384 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,900
- Household income
- $45,027
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.5
Walnut Ridge is a city of 5,384 people in Lawrence County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $117,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Arkansas towns, more of a college town than 93% of Arkansas towns, better for cycling than 91% of Arkansas towns.
How Walnut Ridge 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 Walnut Ridge is worth $117,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $45,027, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walnut Ridge | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $739 | $792 |
| Median household income | $45,027 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Walnut Ridge
| People | Walnut Ridge | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Walnut Ridge
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Ridge since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 2, 2006 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 9, 2015.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 23 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 3,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,366 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Walnut Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Walnut Ridge
2 public schools with 1,023 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALNUT RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 560 | 14.7 |
| WALNUT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 463 | 7.8 |
Towns near Walnut Ridge
- Hoxie, AR3.7 mi · 2,598 people · home $87,600
- Pocahontas, AR12.4 mi · 7,371 people · home $120,000
- Jonesboro, AR23.7 mi · 78,576 people · home $223,200
- Brookland, AR24.2 mi · 4,064 people · home $169,200
- Paragould, AR24.5 mi · 29,537 people · home $181,500
Walnut Ridge questions
Is Walnut Ridge, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walnut Ridge scores better for retirees than 87% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 20%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Walnut Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Walnut Ridge is valued at $117,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,027, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Walnut Ridge?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Walnut Ridge get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Ridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 2, 2006. 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)