The Town FilesWard, Arkansas
City in Lonoke County · population 6,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,100
- Household income
- $72,734
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 53
- Median age
- 30.2
Ward is a city of 6,052 people in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $189,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 79% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 73% of Arkansas towns, more upscale than 72% of Arkansas towns.
How Ward 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 Ward is worth $189,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $72,734, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,202 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ward | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,202 | $792 |
| Median household income | $72,734 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Ward
| People | Ward | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.2 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.8% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Ward
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ward since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 121 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 9, 1991.
Severe weather in Lonoke County since 1996
Lonoke County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| November 14, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4748: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 2, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4698: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lonoke County
Lonoke County had 15,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,054 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Ward itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Ward
1 public school with 521 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WARD CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 521 | 14.9 |
Towns near Ward
- Austin, AR1.9 mi · 3,460 people · home $220,500
- Cabot, AR4.8 mi · 26,569 people · home $207,300
- Beebe, AR5.2 mi · 8,437 people · home $158,200
- Jacksonville, AR13.6 mi · 29,477 people · home $163,400
- Vilonia, AR15.2 mi · 4,288 people · home $232,700
- Lonoke, AR15.7 mi · 4,276 people · home $106,800
- Gibson, AR17.8 mi · 4,111 people · home $157,800
- Sherwood, AR17.9 mi · 32,731 people · home $199,500
Ward questions
Is Ward, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ward scores better for retirees than 3% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 11%. 7.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.2).
How much does a house cost in Ward?
The median owner-occupied home in Ward is valued at $189,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,734, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,202 a month.
What is the weather like in Ward?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Ward get tornadoes?
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ward 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)