At a glance
Clarksville is the Johnson County seat, on I-40 between Fort Smith and Little Rock. Exits 55, 57 and 58 serve the town. Conway is about 71 miles east and Fayetteville about 90 miles northwest.
The nearest commercial airports are in Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock.
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2025 estimate (9,381 at the 2020 census). Drive times are downtown to downtown with no traffic, from OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026, rounded.
What homes cost
RPR (Realtors Property Resource) estimates a typical Clarksville home at about $190,780 as of September 2026. That month's median sale was $225,000 on only 8 closings, so the median swings from month to month. The full monthly numbers are on my Clarksville page.
The Census Bureau's survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Clarksville at $164,800 and median rent at $760 a month (2020 to 2024). More on my cost of living page.
Who hires here
Tyson's poultry operations are the largest single employer in town, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Walmart has run a grocery distribution center here since 1992, and the city says it employs more than 900 people.
Johnson Regional Medical Center is a 90-bed nonprofit hospital. The University of the Ozarks enrolled 796 students in fall 2025, and the Clarksville School District enrolled 2,382 in 2025-26.
Russellville is 26 miles east, which puts Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One within a commute.
Outdoors
The Spadra Creek Nature Trail runs through town: 1.7 paved, lighted miles on the west side and 1.3 miles of natural trail on the east.
Lake Ludwig is the city lake, north of town on Highway 21, with a beach and pavilions. The Red Lick mountain bike trails opened beside it in December 2023, and the builder lists 16 miles of trail.
Spadra Park puts you on Lake Dardanelle, which covers 34,300 acres on the Arkansas River. The park has a marina, two boat ramps and 24 campsites.
Highway 21 north of town is the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway: 35 miles through the Ozark National Forest to the Buffalo National River. The Mulberry River and Big Piney Creek, both National Wild and Scenic Rivers, are up that way.
The Clarksville Aquatic Center has an outdoor water park and an indoor eight-lane pool.
Weather
The averages hide the hot stretches. In my experience, summer can sit near 100 degrees for weeks. Snow is light most years, but when it comes, county roads can wait days for a plow.
Averages: NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals, Clarksville station.
Internet, schools and taxes
Internet. Clarksville Connected Utilities, the city-owned utility, built a fiber network in 2019 and 2020 and sells gigabit service. It doesn't reach every address, so check the address before you count on it.
Schools. Most Clarksville addresses are in the Clarksville School District, which runs six schools. The other districts and how to check an address are on my school districts page.
Taxes. A $200,000 primary residence inside Clarksville city limits would owe about $1,472 for 2025 (billed in 2026): $2,072 before credits, less the $600 homestead credit. Sales tax in Clarksville is 9.5%. More on my property tax page. I'm a Realtor, not a tax advisor. Confirm any parcel with the county assessor before you rely on a number.
The tradeoffs, honestly
Clarksville is a small town. A commercial flight means Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas or Little Rock. Big-city shopping and some medical specialists mean a drive to Fort Smith, Russellville or Little Rock.
Paychecks run lower here too. The Census puts median household income in Clarksville at $37,373, against $60,773 statewide. Homes cost less, but so do wages, so run your own numbers.
And there are fewer homes to choose from than in a bigger market. In September 2026 there were 83 homes for sale in Clarksville.
Questions people ask
Is Clarksville, Arkansas a good place to live?
That depends on what you want. Clarksville is a town of about 9,600 on I-40, with a university, a hospital, a city lake and the Ozark National Forest up Highway 21. The Census median home value is below the state's. The tradeoffs: it's small, wages run lower than the state's, and a commercial flight or big-city shopping means a drive to Fort Smith or Little Rock.
How far is Clarksville from Fort Smith and Little Rock?
Fort Smith is about 59 miles west, roughly an hour. Little Rock is about 100 miles east, roughly an hour and 40 minutes. Russellville is 26 miles east, about 30 minutes. All are on I-40.
What do homes cost in Clarksville, AR?
RPR (Realtors Property Resource) estimates a typical Clarksville home at about $190,780 as of September 2026. That month's median sale was $225,000 on only 8 closings, so the median swings from month to month. The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes at $164,800 (2020 to 2024).
Who are the major employers in Clarksville, Arkansas?
Tyson's poultry operations are the largest single employer, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Others include Walmart's grocery distribution center, Johnson Regional Medical Center, the University of the Ozarks and the Clarksville School District.
What is the weather like in Clarksville, Arkansas?
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages for Clarksville: a July high of about 92 degrees, a January low of about 29, about 51 inches of rain a year and 2.5 inches of snow. Summers run hot, and snow is light most years.
Can I buy a home in Clarksville from out of state?
Yes. I walk buyers through homes live on video, and I've closed a purchase where the buyers signed by mail from out of state. My questions-before-you-move page covers how it works.
Let's talk
Moving here, or thinking about it? Call or text me and tell me what brings you and when. The questions I hear most are on my questions-before-you-move page.
Call or text: 903-824-2018Tell me where you're moving from
Leave your number and I'll text you back with a straight answer.