The Town FilesClarksdale, Mississippi
City in Coahoma County · population 14,903 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,900
- Household income
- $36,382
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 34.9
Clarksdale is a city of 14,903 people in Coahoma County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $83,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 98% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 95% of Mississippi towns.
How Clarksdale ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clarksdale is worth $83,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $36,382, which is more affordable than 80% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 45.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarksdale | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $774 | $820 |
| Median household income | $36,382 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 45.9% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Clarksdale
| People | Clarksdale | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 83.3% |
Weather in Clarksdale
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarksdale since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 23, 2015 about 5.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 31, 2015.
Severe weather in Coahoma County since 1996
Coahoma County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Coahoma County
Coahoma County had 6,216 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,691 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Clarksdale itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Clarksdale
10 public schools with 3,024 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARKSDALE COLLEGIATE (charter) | K-7 | 583 | 15.8 |
| COAHOMA COUNTY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 552 | 13.5 |
| CLARKSDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 478 | 12.9 |
| GEO H OLIVER VISUAL/PERF. ARTS | PK-4 | 299 | 18.7 |
| W.A. HIGGINS MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMY | 7-8 | 281 | 14.1 |
| KIRKPATRICK HEALTH /WELLNESS | PK-4 | 261 | 17.4 |
| BOOKER T WASHINGTON INTERN. STUDIES | PK-4 | 207 | 17.3 |
| OAKHURST INTERMEDIATE ACADEMY | 5-6 | 205 | 14.6 |
| JEROME W. STAMPLEY 9TH GRADE ACADEM | 9-9 | 158 | 10.5 |
| CARL KEEN VOC | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Clarksdale
- Helena-West Helena, AR23.5 mi · 9,519 people · home $73,200
Clarksdale questions
Is Clarksdale, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarksdale scores better for retirees than 73% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 2%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Clarksdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarksdale is valued at $83,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,382, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarksdale?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Clarksdale get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarksdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 23, 2015. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)