Helena, AR · standard
ZIP Code 72342
Phillips County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,532
- 24/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $36,905
- Median income Below-median income area
- $97,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Helena pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, renter-heavy area.
- 4th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 9th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 24
- people per sq mi
- 37%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72342 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 72342 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, home to 5,532 residents across 231.5 square miles, a density of 24 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 72342 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $36,905 (35% below the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,836. Economic pressure is pronounced: 26.6% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 18.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $97,200 (33% below the average Arkansas ZIP), and median rent is $704; owner occupancy is 36.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Phillips County, so 72342 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 72342
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Helena, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72342.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
38 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing 11
Transportation and warehousing
11 establishments
- Retail trade 10
Retail trade
10 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 9
Professional, scientific, and technical services
9 establishments
- Wholesale trade 7
Wholesale trade
7 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 72342, Helena, 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
5,532
Population
231.5
Area (sq mi)
24
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72342?
47.0
Median Age
44.4%
Male
55.6%
Female
4.1%
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?
$36,905
Median Household Income
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$20,836
Per Capita Income
26.6%
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 72342 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
Helena, 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)
$36,905 12th percentile higher than 12% 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
2,480housing units
2,480
Total Housing Units
1,644
Occupied Units
836
Vacant Units
2.35
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$97,200
Median Home Value
-33% vs state ZIP avg
$704
Median Rent
1973
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
+13.1%
YoY Change (2021)
112
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+12%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72342 have increased 13.1% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +12% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | – | 101 |
| 2016 | -10.5% | 90 |
| 2018 | – | 90 |
| 2020 | – | 99 |
| 2021 | +13.1% | 112 |
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 2021. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 125 business establishments in ZIP 72342, employing approximately 1,453 people with a combined annual payroll of $74,212,000.
125
Businesses
1,453
Employees
$74.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 38 | 30.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 8.8% |
| Retail trade | 10 | 8.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 | 7.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 5.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 5.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 4.8% |
| Information | 5 | 4.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 5 | 4.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 3.2% |
| Construction | 4 | 3.2% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 3.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 3.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 3 | 2.4% |
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 72342 vs 72390 →
ZIP 72342 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72390
West Helena (72390)
9,107 residents
- 72342
Helena (72342)
5,532 residents
- 72355 2,768
Lexa (72355)
2,768 residents
- 38631 1,306
Friars Point (38631)
1,306 residents
- 72374 876
Poplar Grove (72374)
876 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72342 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 72342 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72355
Lexa (72355)
$55,307 median income
- 72390
West Helena (72390)
$38,294 median income
- 72342
Helena (72342)
$36,905 median income
- 38631
Friars Point (38631)
$29,583 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 72342 ranks #3 of 4 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 72342, 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 (5,532 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Phillips County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 72342 in?
ZIP code 72342 (Helena) is located in Phillips County, Arkansas. Phillips County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/phillips-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 72342?
ZIP code 72342 in Helena, AR has a population of 5,532 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72342?
The median household income in ZIP 72342 is $36,905, which is 52% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72342?
The median home value in ZIP 72342 is $97,200, which is 65% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72342?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72342 is African American at 63.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72342?
ZIP code 72342 has 125 business establishments employing approximately 1,453 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72342?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72342 are: Health care and social assistance (38), Transportation and warehousing (11), Retail trade (10). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72342?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72342 increased by 13.1% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 12%. 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 72342?
In ZIP code 72342, 46.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.8% 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 72342?
In ZIP code 72342, approximately 36.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72342?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72342 is 26.6% 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 72342's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 72342 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Helena, 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.