Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Osceola grades D− overall, 113th among Arkansas's 123 graded towns, mostly because of health and incomes. Residents are less healthy than 97% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The median household income is $46K, and 26% of residents live below the poverty line. In its favor, a typical home costs about $100K, 1.9 years of the Blytheville area’s $53K median household income. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Osceola, against 17% in Arkansas’ towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Only 12 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score lower on hazard risk. Its National Register listings include Mississippi County Courthouse and City Hall.
Where Osceola beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Census counts: 317 in 1880, 6,976 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1965 on.
12 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Osceola is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Osceola, 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 Osceola.
Osceola has homes that are cheap against local pay and is mostly renters.
9.8 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. Osceola’s trail density is 0.9 miles per square mile.
| Osceola | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.2% | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rosenwald Park | — | 9 |
| 2. Florida Park | — | 5 |
| 3. Irma Belcher Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Its public schools are run by the Osceola School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll Smith Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades 1–4 | Grades 1–4 | 265 | D |
| Osceola High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 254 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
49% of adults have obesity in Osceola. Osceola beats the Arkansas average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 48% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Osceola.
| Osceola | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 39% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 39% | 36% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 19% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 41% | 35% |
| What stands out | Osceola | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.3% | 8.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 18.6% | 10.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities. Since 2003, 7 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Osceola.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Osceola has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Osceola is 91°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
About one in 3 of Osceola’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Osceola fell to 2,260 in 2023, 476 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Blytheville (10%), Jonesboro (5%) and Memphis (3%).
| Osceola | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 31% | 21% | 8% |
| Median household income | $46,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Osceola's reported crime rate is well below Arkansas's. 42 violent crimes were reported in 2023.
| Osceola | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 6.4 per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 1.8 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 5.7 per 1,000 residents | 19.5 | 13.1 |
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
At 1.9 years of the Blytheville area’s $53K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 93% of Arkansas towns; that ratio is one input to its B+ for cost of living. The median property tax bill is $481, against $1,040 across Arkansas, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
43% of Osceola households own their home.
| Osceola | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 43% | 60% | 73% |
| Median rent | $846 a month | $880 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
1 within 15 miles of the center of Osceola
About 4 of every 100 Osceola residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas.
7,757 counted in 2010 and 6,976 in 2020; an estimated 6,450 in 2025.
The decline has continued: down 7.3% since 2020, after 10.1% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
12 places in Osceola on the National Register of Historic Places.
17 notable people were born in Osceola.
City in Arkansas, United States
Osceola is a city in and a dual county seat of Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. Located along the Mississippi River within the Arkansas Delta, the settlement was founded in 1837 and incorporated in 1853. Occupying an important location on the river, the city's economy grew as steamboat traffic increased. Timber and cotton harvesting would develop, and the city experienced rapid growth and development throughout the early 20th century. The city's economy has since diversified to include a robust industrial sector. The population was 6,976 at the 2020 census, down from 7,757 in 2010.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Osceola grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #113 of 123 in Arkansas. It grades D− for health and D for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D−.
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $100,000, 55% below the Arkansas typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
17 notable people were born here, including Cortez Kennedy and Son Seals.
