West Helena, AR · standard
ZIP Code 72390
Phillips County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 9,107
- 96/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $38,294
- Median income Below-median income area
- $64,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 13.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Helena pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 2nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 96
- people per sq mi
- 52%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72390 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 72390 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, home to 9,107 residents across 95.2 square miles, a density of 96 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 72390 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,294 (32% below the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $19,783. Economic pressure is pronounced: 30.3% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.9%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $64,700 (56% below the average Arkansas ZIP), and median rent is $782; owner occupancy is 52.4%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.5, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Phillips County, so 72390 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 72390
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Helena, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72390.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
32 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
17 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
16 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
16 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 10
Professional, scientific, and technical services
10 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 72390, West 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
9,107
Population
95.2
Area (sq mi)
96
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72390?
32.5
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
0.4%
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?
$38,294
Median Household Income
-32% vs state ZIP avg
$19,783
Per Capita Income
30.3%
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 72390 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
West 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)
$38,294 15th percentile higher than 15% 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
3,330housing units
3,330
Total Housing Units
2,415
Occupied Units
915
Vacant Units
2.72
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$64,700
Median Home Value
-56% vs state ZIP avg
$782
Median Rent
1972
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
+6.1%
YoY Change (2021)
122
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+22%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72390 have increased 6.1% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +22% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +2.5% | 112 |
| 2017 | -3.4% | 108 |
| 2018 | +6.7% | 116 |
| 2020 | – | 115 |
| 2021 | +6.1% | 122 |
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 134 business establishments in ZIP 72390, employing approximately 1,574 people with a combined annual payroll of $52,038,000.
134
Businesses
1,574
Employees
$52.0M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 32 | 23.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 17 | 12.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 16 | 11.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 11.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10 | 7.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 5.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 5.2% |
| Information | 5 | 3.7% |
| Construction | 4 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.2% |
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 72390 vs 72355 →
ZIP 72390 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
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72390 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 72390 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
What this shows By household income, ZIP 72390 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 72390, 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 (9,107 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 72390 in?
ZIP code 72390 (West 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 72390?
ZIP code 72390 in West Helena, AR has a population of 9,107 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72390?
The median household income in ZIP 72390 is $38,294, which is 50% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72390?
The median home value in ZIP 72390 is $64,700, which is 77% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72390?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72390 is African American at 65.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72390?
ZIP code 72390 has 134 business establishments employing approximately 1,574 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72390?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72390 are: Retail trade (32), Other services (except public administration) (17), Health care and social assistance (16). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72390?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72390 increased by 6.1% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 22%. 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 72390?
In ZIP code 72390, 47.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.5% 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 72390?
In ZIP code 72390, approximately 52.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72390?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72390 is 30.3% 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 72390's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 72390 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West 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.