Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Marianna grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns, mostly because of health and incomes. On CDC estimates, its residents' health ranks in the bottom 2% nationally. The median household income is $20K, and 57% of residents live below the poverty line. It also has a long history, with 10 places on the National Register. 57% of residents live below the poverty line in Marianna, above both Arkansas’ towns (17%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 18 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score lower on cost of living. Its National Register listings include McClintock House and Gen. Robert E. Lee Monument.
Where Marianna beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
McClintock House| Widest gap | Marianna | AR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 28.8% | 10.4% |
Census counts: 627 in 1880, a peak of 6,220 in 1980, 3,575 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 3 maps from 1940 on.
10 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Marianna is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marianna, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Marianna.
Marianna has home values falling while Arkansas’s rise, but it has seen reported crime rise by a fifth or more and has poverty well above the Arkansas rate.
43% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Marianna. Of the 123 Arkansas towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Marianna. 22% of adults report frequent mental distress in Marianna.
| Marianna | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 25% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 17% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 53% | 39% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 13% | 12% |
| What stands out | Marianna | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 9% | 14.6% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.7% | 8.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 28.8% | 10.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Lee County School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Strong Learning AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 417 | D− |
| Lee High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 281 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
Reported crimes rose from 80 to 98 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. At 64.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 82% of Arkansas’s graded towns.
Marianna’s violent crime rate is 10.3 per 1,000 residents.
| Marianna | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.3 per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 20.4 per 1,000 residents | 13.5 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Values fell 11.3% in the past year while the Arkansas typical home rose 3.4%. 76% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 44.8% across Arkansas.
30% of Marianna households own their home. Typical home values fell 11% in the year to September 2026. The median rent in Marianna is $660 a month.
| Marianna | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 30% | 60% | 73% |
| Median rent | $660 a month | $880 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 27 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Marianna.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Marianna has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 91°, January nights drop to 33° and about 1 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About one in 3 of Marianna’s working residents works in town. No town among the 123 in Arkansas we compare has a lower median household income than Marianna. Since 2013, Marianna has lost 129 jobs, to 991 in 2023.
| Marianna | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 31% | 21% | 8% |
| Median household income | $20,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
| Marianna | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.1% | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Atkins Park | — | 8 |
| 2. Court Square Park | 0.2 mi | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Marianna; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Marianna residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
4,115 counted in 2010 and 3,575 in 2020; an estimated 3,253 in 2025.
The decline has continued: down 10.3% since 2020, after 13.1% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
10 places in Marianna on the National Register of Historic Places.
12 notable people were born in Marianna.
Town in Arkansas, United States
Marianna is a town in and the county seat of Lee County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 3,575, down from 4,115 at the 2010 census. Located along the L'Anguille River in the Arkansas Delta just north of the St. Francis National Forest, the community was known as "Walnut Ridge" until 1852 when it became known as "Marianna". The town's economy has historically been based on agriculture, especially cotton production. The town is located along Crowley's Ridge Parkway and the Great River Road, both National Scenic Byways showcasing Crowley's Ridge and the Mississippi River.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Marianna grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns. It grades D− for health, D for safety and D for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D−.
12 notable people were born here, including Oliver Lake and Oscar Polk.
