Heber Springs, AR · standard
ZIP Code 72543
Cleburne County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,535
- 43/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $56,722
- Median income Below-median income area
- $187,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 19.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Heber Springs pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 24th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 40th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 43
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72543 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 72543 (Heber Springs, AR) rose +16.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 207.2 in 2023 to 242.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 72543 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas, home to 12,535 residents across 293.6 square miles, a density of 43 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 72543 reports a modest median household income of $56,722 (0% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,922. The poverty rate is 13.6%, with unemployment at 9.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $187,800 (29% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while 75.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $849.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.7, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cleburne County, so 72543 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 72543
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Heber Springs, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72543.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
66 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
58 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
39 establishments
- Construction
Construction
31 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 72543, Heber Springs, 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
12,535
Population
293.6
Area (sq mi)
43
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72543?
47.7
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
0.6%
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?
$56,722
Median Household Income
+0% vs state ZIP avg
$35,922
Per Capita Income
13.6%
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Unemployment Rate
22.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 72543 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
Heber Springs, 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)
$56,722 Top 41% higher than 59% 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
7,153housing units
7,153
Total Housing Units
5,259
Occupied Units
1,894
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$187,800
Median Home Value
+29% vs state ZIP avg
$849
Median Rent
1985
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
+16.9%
YoY Change (2024)
242
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+142%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72543 have increased 16.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +142% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 158 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 177 |
| 2022 | +17.4% | 208 |
| 2023 | -0.1% | 207 |
| 2024 | +16.9% | 242 |
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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 381 business establishments in ZIP 72543, employing approximately 4,785 people with a combined annual payroll of $185,970,000.
381
Businesses
4,785
Employees
$186.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 66 | 17.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 58 | 15.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 46 | 12.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 39 | 10.2% |
| Construction | 31 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 28 | 7.3% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 6.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 5.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 19 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 18 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 2.9% |
| Information | 10 | 2.6% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 0.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.8% |
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 72543 vs 72581 →
ZIP 72543 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72543
Heber Springs (72543)
12,535 residents
- 72137 2,555
Rose Bud (72137)
2,555 residents
- 72581 1,030
Tumbling Shoals (72581)
1,030 residents
- 72179 450
Wilburn (72179)
450 residents
- 72546 181
Ida (72546)
181 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72543 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 72543 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72179
Wilburn (72179)
$68,571 median income
- 72543
Heber Springs (72543)
$56,722 median income
- 72137
Rose Bud (72137)
$52,612 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 72543 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 72543, 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 (12,535 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cleburne County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 72543 in?
ZIP code 72543 (Heber Springs) is located in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Cleburne County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cleburne-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 72543?
ZIP code 72543 in Heber Springs, AR has a population of 12,535 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72543?
The median household income in ZIP 72543 is $56,722, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72543?
The median home value in ZIP 72543 is $187,800, which is 32% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72543?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72543 is White at 95.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72543?
ZIP code 72543 has 381 business establishments employing approximately 4,785 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72543?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72543 are: Retail trade (66), Health care and social assistance (58), Accommodation and food services (46). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72543?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72543 increased by 16.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 142%. 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 72543?
In ZIP code 72543, 57.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 72543?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 72543 is 22.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 72543?
In ZIP code 72543, approximately 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72543?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72543 is 13.6% 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 72543's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 72543 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Heber Springs, AR ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.