ZIP Code 72901
standardSource:
Fort Smith · Sebastian County · Arkansas
- Population
- 21,591
- Median income
- $42,851
- Median home value
- $118,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 19.1%
- Land area
- 22.7 sq mi
952/sq mi
▼ 44% vs US
higher than 7% of US ZIPs
▼ 58% vs US
higher than 16% of US ZIPs
Median age 35.6
Chicago
ZIP code 72901 in Fort Smith, Arkansas has a population of 21,591. The median household income is $42,851, which is 44% below the national average. Median home value is $118,100, 58% below the US average. 19.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 72901 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 22.7 square miles in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. The area is home to 21,591 residents, producing a population density of 952 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 72901 against Arkansas and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 72901 sits at $42,851 (24% below the Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $26,107. The poverty rate stands at 26.1% and the unemployment rate at 11.6%. On housing, the median home value is $118,100 (19% below the state average) with median rent at $854 per month, and 43.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 72901 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 19.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.6, and the average commute is 17 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Sebastian County, so you can benchmark 72901 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 72901
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72901.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
142 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
121 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
105 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
99 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
89 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 72901, Fort Smith, AR · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,591
Population
22.7
Area (sq mi)
952
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72901?
35.6
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
9.6%
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?
$42,851
Median Household Income
-24% vs state
$26,107
Per Capita Income
26.1%
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Unemployment Rate
17.2 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
10,266
Total Housing Units
8,789
Occupied Units
1,477
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$118,100
Median Home Value
-19% vs state
$854
Median Rent
1959
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
+13.4%
YoY Change (2024)
223
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+123%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72901 have increased 13.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +123% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -3.0% | 139 |
| 2021 | +14.2% | 159 |
| 2022 | +12.4% | 178 |
| 2023 | +10.0% | 196 |
| 2024 | +13.4% | 223 |
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 944 business establishments in ZIP 72901, employing approximately 18,066 people with a combined annual payroll of $937,175,000.
944
Businesses
18,066
Employees
$937.2M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 142 | 15.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 121 | 12.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 105 | 11.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 99 | 10.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 89 | 9.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 62 | 6.6% |
| Manufacturing | 61 | 6.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 54 | 5.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 49 | 5.2% |
| Construction | 47 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 37 | 3.9% |
| Information | 20 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 11 | 1.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 1.1% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 9 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 | 0.7% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.3% |
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 72901 vs 74901 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74901 | Arkoma, OK | 1,992 | 2.7 mi |
| 74946 | Moffett, OK | 137 | 2.7 mi |
| 72908 | Fort Smith, AR | 13,378 | 4.2 mi |
| 72903 | Fort Smith, AR | 26,148 | 3.3 mi |
| 72904 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,893 | 3.7 mi |
| 72916 | Fort Smith, AR | 7,131 | 7.2 mi |
| 74954 | Roland, OK | 4,590 | 6.2 mi |
| 72923 | Barling, AR | 4,735 | 7.0 mi |
| 72956 | Van Buren, AR | 34,074 | 8.0 mi |
| 74902 | Pocola, OK | 4,095 | 9.2 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Sebastian County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 72901 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 72901? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 72901? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 72901? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72901? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72901? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72901? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72901? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 72901? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 72901? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 72901? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72901? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Fort Smith, AR
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.