Fort Smith, AR · standard
ZIP Code 72903
Sebastian County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 26,148
- 603/sq mi High-density area
- $61,434
- Median income Below-median income area
- $235,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fort Smith pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 32nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 46%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 603
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72903 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 72903 (Fort Smith, AR) rose +1.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.6 in 2023 to 216.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 72903 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, with 26,148 residents across 43.4 square miles, a density of 603 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 72903 reports a modest median household income of $61,434 (9% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,424. The poverty rate is 10.3%, with unemployment at 4.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $235,900 (62% above the average Arkansas ZIP) and median rent is $827; 52.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Sebastian County, so 72903 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 72903
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fort Smith, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72903.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
213 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
189 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
129 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
86 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 81
Other services (except public administration)
81 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 72903, Fort Smith, 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
26,148
Population
43.4
Area (sq mi)
603
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72903?
38.3
Median Age
51.0%
Male
49.0%
Female
5.5%
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?
$61,434
Median Household Income
+9% vs state ZIP avg
$36,424
Per Capita Income
10.3%
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Unemployment Rate
16.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 72903 ranks among Arkansas ZIPs
Fort Smith, 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)
$61,434 Top 32% higher than 68% 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
12,170housing units
12,170
Total Housing Units
11,464
Occupied Units
706
Vacant Units
2.31
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$235,900
Median Home Value
+62% vs state ZIP avg
$827
Median Rent
1980
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
+1.9%
YoY Change (2024)
217
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+117%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72903 have increased 1.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.6% | 152 |
| 2021 | +11.1% | 168 |
| 2022 | +15.0% | 193 |
| 2023 | +9.9% | 213 |
| 2024 | +1.9% | 217 |
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 1,043 business establishments in ZIP 72903, employing approximately 17,571 people with a combined annual payroll of $829,756,000.
1,043
Businesses
17,571
Employees
$829.8M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 213 | 20.4% |
| Retail trade | 189 | 18.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 129 | 12.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 86 | 8.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 81 | 7.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 72 | 6.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 63 | 6.0% |
| Construction | 37 | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 36 | 3.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 36 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 | 2.4% |
| Information | 22 | 2.1% |
| Manufacturing | 15 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 11 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10 | 1.0% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 6 | 0.6% |
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 72903 vs 72901 →
ZIP 72903 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72956
Van Buren (72956)
34,074 residents
- 72903
Fort Smith (72903)
26,148 residents
- 72904
Fort Smith (72904)
21,893 residents
- 72901
Fort Smith (72901)
21,591 residents
- 72908 13,378
Fort Smith (72908)
13,378 residents
- 72916 7,131
Fort Smith (72916)
7,131 residents
- 72923 4,735
Barling (72923)
4,735 residents
- 74954 4,590
Roland (74954)
4,590 residents
- 74902 4,095
Pocola (74902)
4,095 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72903 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 72903 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72916
Fort Smith (72916)
$87,983 median income
- 72908
Fort Smith (72908)
$72,732 median income
- 72956
Van Buren (72956)
$62,988 median income
- 72903
Fort Smith (72903)
$61,434 median income
- 74954
Roland (74954)
$58,397 median income
- 72923
Barling (72923)
$54,157 median income
- 74902
Pocola (74902)
$50,545 median income
- 74901
Arkoma (74901)
$43,929 median income
- 72901
Fort Smith (72901)
$42,851 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 72903 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72901 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,591 | 3.3 mi |
| 72904 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,893 | 4.5 mi |
| 72923 | Barling, AR | 4,735 | 3.8 mi |
| 72908 | Fort Smith, AR | 13,378 | 4.1 mi |
| 72916 | Fort Smith, AR | 7,131 | 5.8 mi |
| 74901 | Arkoma, OK | 1,992 | 5.5 mi |
| 72956 | Van Buren, AR | 34,074 | 8.1 mi |
| 74946 | Moffett, OK | 137 | 5.9 mi |
| 74954 | Roland, OK | 4,590 | 9.3 mi |
| 74902 | Pocola, OK | 4,095 | 10.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 72903, 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 (26,148 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Sebastian County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 72903 in?
ZIP code 72903 (Fort Smith) is located in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Sebastian County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sebastian-ar.
What is the population of ZIP code 72903?
ZIP code 72903 in Fort Smith, AR has a population of 26,148 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72903?
The median household income in ZIP 72903 is $61,434, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72903?
The median home value in ZIP 72903 is $235,900, which is 15% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72903?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72903 is White at 72.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72903?
ZIP code 72903 has 1,043 business establishments employing approximately 17,571 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72903?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72903 are: Health care and social assistance (213), Retail trade (189), Accommodation and food services (129). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72903?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72903 increased by 1.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. 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 72903?
In ZIP code 72903, 56.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.3% 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 72903?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 72903 is 16.5 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 72903?
In ZIP code 72903, approximately 52.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72903?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72903 is 10.3% 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 72903's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 72903 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Fort Smith, 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.