PlainZIP

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
$51,969
Median income
$164,100
Median home value
20.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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
32th 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.

ZIP code 71953 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1653.6 square miles in Mena, Polk County, Arkansas. The area is home to 14,882 residents, producing a population density of 9 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 71953 against Arkansas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 71953 sits at $51,969 (8% below the Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $30,724. The poverty rate stands at 12.9% and the unemployment rate at 7.5%. On housing, the median home value is $164,100 (12% above the state average) with median rent at $699 per month, and 80.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 71953 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.8, and the average commute is —. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 additional ZIPs sharing Polk County, so you can benchmark 71953 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 71953

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 71953.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 71953?

47.8

Median Age

49.1%

Male

50.9%

Female

1.3%

Foreign-Born

White 91.4%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.9%

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

$30,724

Per Capita Income

12.9%

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 71953 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$51,969 17th percentile higher than 17% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,997

Total Housing Units

5,620

Occupied Units

1,377

Vacant Units

2.36

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 80.8%
Renter 19.2%

$164,100

Median Home Value

+12% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 71953 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 71953 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
72926 Boles, AR 545 11.7 mi
71945 Hatfield, AR 1,437 12.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Polk County

71937 standard
Cove, AR
Pop: 2,026
71945 standard
Hatfield, AR
Pop: 1,437
71973 standard
Wickes, AR
Pop: 1,424
71944 standard
Grannis, AR
Pop: 773
71972 standard
Vandervoort, AR
Pop: 309

Related Areas

Polk County Mena, AR Arkansas

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.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Mena, AR

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.