Residential delivery area · Arkansas
ZIP Code 72542: Hardy, AR
ZIP code 72542 uses the postal name Hardy, Arkansas and lies mostly in Sharp County (82% of its land) with the rest in Fulton County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 4,100 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $41,295 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Highland (6%) and Hardy (3%); 91% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2024
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Hardy · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Sharp County (82%); Fulton County (18%)
- Census places
- Highland (6%); Hardy (3%)
- House district
- AR-1 119th Congress
- State
- Arkansas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 155.0 sq mi · 26 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 72542?
72542 centers on 36.300°, -91.466° and covers 155.0 square miles of land plus 1.1 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 72529, 72482, 72459, 72554, 72513, 72532.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 72542, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 72542 compare with the rest of Sharp County?
| Measure | 72542 | In Sharp County | In AR |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,072 | 3rd of 13 | 164th of 615 |
| Median household income | $41k | 3rd of 5 | 205th of 228 |
| Median home value | $99k | 5th of 7 | 205th of 243 |
Its median household income is higher than in 6% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 31% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 72542?
The 2020 Census counted 3,681 people in 72542; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 4,072. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 3.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 4,072±522 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 3,681−3.8% since 2010 (3,826)
- Households
- 1,537
- Median age
- 43.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 72542?
Of the 4,072 people the ACS estimates in 72542, 20.8% are under 18 and 24.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (90.3%).
- Under 1820.8%
- 18 to 6455.0%
- 65 and older24.3%
- White, not Hispanic90.3%
- Other or two or more8.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.9%
- Hispanic or Latino0.7%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 72542 earn?
Median household income is $41,295 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 5 ranked ZIP codes in Sharp County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($44,973 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $41,295±$7,198
- Income per person
- $25,017
- Below the poverty line
- 15.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.8%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 12.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $48,0481,490 returns; wages 66% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 72542?
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $98,500
- Median gross rent
- $646
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 83.2%
- Housing units
- 2,179
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 72542?
127 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 5 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade25
- Other services (except public administration)24
- Health care and social assistance15
- Accommodation and food services15
- Finance and insurance11
- Information8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 72542?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72529 | Cherokee Village | 5,059 | $37k | 5.7 mi |
| 72482 | Williford | 1,226 | $36k | 6.4 mi |
| 72459 | Ravenden | 1,348 | $39k | 9.6 mi |
| 72554 | Mammoth Spring | 2,817 | $43k | 11.1 mi |
| 72513 | Ash Flat | 2,888 | $40k | 11.2 mi |
| 72532 | Evening Shade | 1,618 | $39k | 16.3 mi |
| 72539 | Glencoe | 123 | $86k | 14.4 mi (near) |
| 72569 | Poughkeepsie | 279 | $58k | 15.2 mi (near) |
| 72520 | Camp | 307 | $24k | 15.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.