Royal, AR · standard
ZIP Code 71968
Garland County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,717
- 19/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $75,592
- Median income Near-median income area
- $215,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 19.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Royal pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 44%
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 19
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 71968 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 71968 (Royal, AR) rose +10.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 215.8 in 2023 to 237.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 71968 covers 255.0 square miles in Royal, Garland County, Arkansas (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,717 residents on file, a density of 19 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 71968 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,592 (34% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,986. Unemployment is 20.2%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $215,000 (47% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while 79.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,080.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.5, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Garland County, so 71968 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 71968
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Royal, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 71968.
- Construction
Construction
30 establishments
- Retail trade 11
Retail trade
11 establishments
- Manufacturing 6
Manufacturing
6 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 6
Other services (except public administration)
6 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 5
Professional, scientific, and technical services
5 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 71968, Royal, 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
4,717
Population
255.0
Area (sq mi)
19
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 71968?
44.5
Median Age
50.7%
Male
49.3%
Female
0.5%
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?
$75,592
Median Household Income
+34% vs state ZIP avg
$30,986
Per Capita Income
11.8%
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 71968 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
Royal, 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)
$75,592 Top 14% higher than 86% 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
2,182housing units
2,182
Total Housing Units
1,627
Occupied Units
555
Vacant Units
2.70
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$215,000
Median Home Value
+47% vs state ZIP avg
$1,080
Median Rent
1996
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
+10.2%
YoY Change (2024)
238
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+138%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 71968 have increased 10.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +138% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -3.8% | 156 |
| 2021 | +15.3% | 179 |
| 2022 | +18.8% | 213 |
| 2023 | +1.3% | 216 |
| 2024 | +10.2% | 238 |
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 76 business establishments in ZIP 71968, employing approximately 906 people with a combined annual payroll of $44,372,000.
76
Businesses
906
Employees
$44.4M
Annual Payroll
7
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 30 | 39.5% |
| Retail trade | 11 | 14.5% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 7.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 7.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 | 6.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 6.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 3 | 4.0% |
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 71968 vs 71964 →
ZIP 71968 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 71968
Royal (71968)
4,717 residents
- 71964
Pearcy (71964)
3,926 residents
- 71956 1,882
Mountain Pine (71956)
1,882 residents
- 71933 1,616
Bonnerdale (71933)
1,616 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 71968 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 71968 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 71968
Royal (71968)
$75,592 median income
- 71964
Pearcy (71964)
$56,514 median income
- 71956
Mountain Pine (71956)
$49,958 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 71968 ranks the highest 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 71968, 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 (4,717 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Garland County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 71968 in?
ZIP code 71968 (Royal) is located in Garland County, Arkansas. Garland County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/garland-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 71968?
ZIP code 71968 in Royal, AR has a population of 4,717 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 71968?
The median household income in ZIP 71968 is $75,592, which is 1% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 71968?
The median home value in ZIP 71968 is $215,000, which is 23% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 71968?
The largest racial group in ZIP 71968 is White at 93.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 71968?
ZIP code 71968 has 76 business establishments employing approximately 906 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 71968?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 71968 are: Construction (30), Retail trade (11), Manufacturing (6). There are 7 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 71968?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 71968 increased by 10.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 138%. 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 71968?
In ZIP code 71968, 57.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.8% 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 71968?
In ZIP code 71968, approximately 79.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 71968?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 71968 is 11.8% 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 71968's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 71968 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Royal, 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.