Shirley, AR · standard

ZIP Code 72153

Van Buren County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

2,572
12/sq mi
$50,253
Median income
$131,000
Median home value
9.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Shirley pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

15th pct
household income, US ZIPs
20th pct
home value, US ZIPs
12
people per sq mi
88%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72153 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 72153 covers 219.8 square miles in Shirley, Van Buren County, Arkansas (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,572 residents on file, a density of 12 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 72153 reports a modest median household income of $50,253 (11% below the Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $22,037. 17.3% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 6.1%. Median home value sits at $131,000 (10% below the state average), median rent at - a month, and owner-occupancy at 87.9%.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.4, and the average commute is -. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 additional ZIPs sharing Van Buren County, so you can benchmark 72153 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 72153

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Shirley, AR

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72153.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 72153, Shirley, 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

2,572

Population

219.8

Area (sq mi)

12

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 72153?

37.4

Median Age

50.9%

Male

49.1%

Female

0.4%

Foreign-Born

White 97.8%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.9%
Hispanic or Latino 0.1%

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?

$50,253

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$22,037

Per Capita Income

17.3%

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 72153 ranks nationally

Shirley, AR household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$50,253 15th percentile higher than 15% 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 47.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.9%

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

What does housing look like?

1,986

Total Housing Units

1,591

Occupied Units

395

Vacant Units

2.63

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 87.9%
Renter 12.1%

$131,000

Median Home Value

-10% vs state

1986

Median Year Built

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

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 24 business establishments in ZIP 72153, employing approximately 121 people with a combined annual payroll of $4,116,000.

24

Businesses

121

Employees

$4.1M

Annual Payroll

4

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 6 25.0%
Retail trade 4 16.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 12.5%
Health care and social assistance 3 12.5%

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 72153 vs 72088 →

ZIP 72153 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 72153 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 Code City Population Distance
72088 Fairfield Bay, AR 2,391 4.7 mi
72051 Fox, AR 622 9.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Van Buren County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 72153 in?
ZIP code 72153 (Shirley) is located in Van Buren County, Arkansas. Van Buren County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/van-buren-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 72153?
ZIP code 72153 in Shirley, AR has a population of 2,572 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72153?
The median household income in ZIP 72153 is $50,253, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72153?
The median home value in ZIP 72153 is $131,000, which is 53% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72153?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72153 is White at 97.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72153?
ZIP code 72153 has 24 business establishments employing approximately 121 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72153?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72153 are: Construction (6), Retail trade (4), Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (3). There are 4 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 72153?
In ZIP code 72153, 47.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 9.9% 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 72153?
In ZIP code 72153, approximately 87.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72153?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72153 is 17.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.