2007 · Grape harvest in · Wikimedia Commons
Altus’s story
Altus in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 7 places on the National Register.
AltusAR
A town of 827. Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Doug Wertman from Rogers, AR, USA · CC BY 2.0
Population
827
−12.3% since 2010
Median home value
$108K
Census ACS
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
41.9
years
Jobs based here
125
A commuter town
What makes Altus stand out
The 2 things Altus does most differently from other towns.
Small town
827 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Wiederkehr VillageDenningAltus
Altus’s report card
Now in Altus
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Altus? Is an A− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Altus’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Altus. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Altus’s public schools outperform 82% of Arkansas districts
The public schools Altus’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 82% of Arkansas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Middle School | 6–7 | 266 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Altus
Most working residents leave Altus for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Ozark (22%), Fort Smith (10%) and Clarksville (7%). Half commute less than 23 miles.
5%work in town
Where working residents work
In Altus5%
Ozark22%
Fort Smith10%
Clarksville7%
Russellville5%
23 mi
median commute distance
125
jobs based in Altus
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Altus has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–52°
Spring48–72°
Summer68–91°
Fall50–73°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 30
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Altus
4 crimes were reported in Altus in 2025: 3 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Altus is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
3
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Altus is
Altus beats the Arkansas average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
32 measures vs. Arkansas
0 better21 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Altus | AR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 12.7% | 8.6% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 26.4% | 18.6% |
| More smokers | 21.2% | 15.8% |
Mercy Hospital Ozark
4.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities.
51risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
Homes in Altus sell for about $135K
The median sale price was $135,000 in April 2026.
$135Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Altus for work
Where Altus’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
125jobs based in Altus
5%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
7 places in Altus on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Altus
3 notable people were born in Altus.
About Altus
City in Arkansas, United States
Altus ( AL-tiss) is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States. Altus is located within the Arkansas River Valley at the edge of the Ozark Mountains. The epicenter of the Altus American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Arkansas Wine Country, the city is home to four wineries. Although founded as a coal mining community, the wine industry has driven the Altus economy since the first vineyards were planted in 1872. The population was 758 at the 2010 census, down from 817 at the 2000 census. In 2020, the population was 665 and was estimated as 674 in 2024. Altus was the location for the first season of the television show The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Altus is…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 665
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 541 ft
- ZIP code
- 72821
- Area code
- 479
More about Altus
Still missing for Altus:upcoming events