PlainZIP

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
$38,294
Median income
$64,700
Median home value
13.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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
2th 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 Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $19,783. Poverty here runs at 30.3%, with unemployment measured at 11.9%. Housing costs here run $64,700 for a typical home value (56% below the state average), with rent averaging $782 a month; 52.4% of homes are owner-occupied.

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 -. To put 72390 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Phillips County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 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

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 72390?

32.5

Median Age

48.2%

Male

51.8%

Female

0.4%

Foreign-Born

White 29.8%
African American 65.7%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.4%
Hispanic or Latino 1.2%

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

$19,783

Per Capita Income

30.3%

Poverty Rate

11.9%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 72390 ranks nationally

West Helena, AR household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$38,294 5th percentile higher than 5% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $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 47.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.5%

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

What does housing look like?

3,330

Total Housing Units

2,415

Occupied Units

915

Vacant Units

2.72

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 52.4%
Renter 47.6%

$64,700

Median Home Value

-56% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72390 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 72390 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 72390 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
72355 Lexa, AR 2,768 4.9 mi
72342 Helena, AR 5,532 6.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Phillips County

72342 standard
Helena, AR
Pop: 5,532
72355 standard
Lexa, AR
Pop: 2,768
72366 standard
Marvell, AR
Pop: 2,543
72374 standard
Poplar Grove, AR
Pop: 876
72333 standard
Elaine, AR
Pop: 667
72389 standard
Wabash, AR
Pop: 204

Related Areas

Phillips County West Helena, AR Arkansas

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.

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