Mena, AR · standard
ZIP Code 71953
Polk County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,882
- 9/sq mi Low-density area
- $51,969
- Median income Below-median income area
- $164,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Mena pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 17th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 32nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 9
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 71953 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 71953 (Mena, AR) rose +12.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.8 in 2023 to 246.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 71953 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, home to 14,882 residents across 1653.6 square miles, a density of 9 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 71953 reports a modest median household income of $51,969 (8% below the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,724. The poverty rate is 12.9%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $164,100 (12% above the average Arkansas ZIP) and median rent is $699; 80.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.8, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in Polk County, so 71953 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 71953
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mena, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 71953.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
60 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
52 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
44 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
33 establishments
- Construction
Construction
27 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 71953, Mena, AR · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
14,882
Population
1653.6
Area (sq mi)
9
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 71953?
47.8
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
1.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$51,969
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$30,724
Per Capita Income
12.9%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 71953 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
Mena, AR household income vs. every Arkansas ZIP code
Median household income among 505 reporting Arkansas ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$51,969 44th percentile higher than 44% of 505 Arkansas ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Arkansas ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
6,997housing units
6,997
Total Housing Units
5,620
Occupied Units
1,377
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$164,100
Median Home Value
+12% vs state ZIP avg
$699
Median Rent
1988
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+12.0%
YoY Change (2024)
246
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+146%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 71953 have increased 12.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +146% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -2.4% | 152 |
| 2021 | +14.7% | 174 |
| 2022 | +19.9% | 208 |
| 2023 | +5.4% | 220 |
| 2024 | +12.0% | 246 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 365 business establishments in ZIP 71953, employing approximately 4,082 people with a combined annual payroll of $153,698,000.
365
Businesses
4,082
Employees
$153.7M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 60 | 16.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 52 | 14.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 44 | 12.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 33 | 9.0% |
| Construction | 27 | 7.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 6.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 22 | 6.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 3.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 2.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 7 | 1.9% |
| Information | 7 | 1.9% |
| Utilities | 5 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 71953 vs 72926 →
ZIP 71953 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 71953
Mena (71953)
14,882 residents
- 71945 1,437
Hatfield (71945)
1,437 residents
- 72926 545
Boles (72926)
545 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 71953 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 71953 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72926
Boles (72926)
$82,578 median income
- 71953
Mena (71953)
$51,969 median income
- 71945
Hatfield (71945)
$38,090 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 71953 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 71953, both outside AR so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (14,882 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 71953 in?
ZIP code 71953 (Mena) is located in Polk County, Arkansas. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 71953?
ZIP code 71953 in Mena, AR has a population of 14,882 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 71953?
The median household income in ZIP 71953 is $51,969, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 71953?
The median home value in ZIP 71953 is $164,100, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 71953?
The largest racial group in ZIP 71953 is White at 91.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 71953?
ZIP code 71953 has 365 business establishments employing approximately 4,082 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 71953?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 71953 are: Retail trade (60), Other services (except public administration) (52), Health care and social assistance (44). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 71953?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 71953 increased by 12.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 146%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 71953?
In ZIP code 71953, 57.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 71953?
In ZIP code 71953, approximately 80.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 19.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 71953?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 71953 is 12.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 71953's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 71953 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Mena, AR ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.