PlainZIP

Fort Smith, AR · standard

ZIP Code 72904

Sebastian County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

21,893
644/sq mi
$41,909
Median income
$111,500
Median home value
7.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Fort Smith pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

7th pct
household income, US ZIPs
13th pct
home value, US ZIPs
644
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72904 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 72904 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, with 21,893 residents across 34.0 square miles, a density of 644 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 72904 reports a modest median household income of $41,909 (26% below the Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $18,424. The poverty rate stands at 29.5% and the unemployment rate at 8.0%. Housing costs here run $111,500 for a typical home value (24% below the state average), with rent averaging $842 a month; 53.1% of homes are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 7.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.5, and the average commute is 17 minutes. Beyond these figures, 9 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Sebastian County, letting you compare 72904 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 72904

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fort Smith, AR

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72904.

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 72904, 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

21,893

Population

34.0

Area (sq mi)

644

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 72904?

32.5

Median Age

49.0%

Male

51.0%

Female

26.4%

Foreign-Born

White 31.3%
African American 7.3%
Asian 9.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 14.9%
Hispanic or Latino 46.7%

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?

$41,909

Median Household Income

-26% vs state

$18,424

Per Capita Income

29.5%

Poverty Rate

8.0%

Unemployment Rate

16.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 72904 ranks nationally

Fort Smith, AR household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$41,909 7th percentile higher than 7% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 42.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 7.7%

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

What does housing look like?

8,487

Total Housing Units

7,529

Occupied Units

958

Vacant Units

2.81

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 53.1%
Renter 46.9%

$111,500

Median Home Value

-24% vs state

$842

Median Rent

1965

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

-9.7%

YoY Change (2024)

217

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+117%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 72904 have decreased 9.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.1% 146
2021 +22.0% 178
2022 -0.2% 177
2023 +35.1% 240
2024 -9.7% 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 208 business establishments in ZIP 72904, employing approximately 6,204 people with a combined annual payroll of $277,271,000.

208

Businesses

6,204

Employees

$277.3M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 50 24.0%
Other services (except public administration) 27 13.0%
Construction 23 11.1%
Accommodation and food services 22 10.6%
Health care and social assistance 19 9.1%
Manufacturing 15 7.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 4.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 3.9%
Wholesale trade 7 3.4%
Finance and insurance 7 3.4%
Transportation and warehousing 6 2.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 6 2.9%
Educational services 3 1.4%

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 72904 vs 72901 →

ZIP 72904 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 72904 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 72904 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 72904 ranks #9 of 9 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
72901 Fort Smith, AR 21,591 3.7 mi
72903 Fort Smith, AR 26,148 4.5 mi
72956 Van Buren, AR 34,074 4.2 mi
74946 Moffett, OK 137 4.2 mi
74954 Roland, OK 4,590 6.5 mi
72908 Fort Smith, AR 13,378 7.5 mi
74901 Arkoma, OK 1,992 6.2 mi
72916 Fort Smith, AR 7,131 10.1 mi
72923 Barling, AR 4,735 7.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Sebastian County

72903 standard
Fort Smith, AR
Pop: 26,148
72901 standard
Fort Smith, AR
Pop: 21,591
72936 standard
Greenwood, AR
Pop: 14,527
72908 standard
Fort Smith, AR
Pop: 13,378
72916 standard
Fort Smith, AR
Pop: 7,131
72941 standard
Lavaca, AR
Pop: 5,251

Related Areas

Sebastian County Fort Smith, AR Arkansas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 72904 in? ▼
ZIP code 72904 (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 72904? ▼
ZIP code 72904 in Fort Smith, AR has a population of 21,893 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72904? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 72904 is $41,909, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72904? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 72904 is $111,500, which is 60% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72904? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 72904 is White at 31.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 46.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72904? ▼
ZIP code 72904 has 208 business establishments employing approximately 6,204 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72904? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72904 are: Retail trade (50), Other services (except public administration) (27), Construction (23). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72904? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72904 decreased by 9.7% 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 72904? ▼
In ZIP code 72904, 42.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 7.7% 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 72904? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 72904 is 16.7 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 72904? ▼
In ZIP code 72904, approximately 53.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72904? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72904 is 29.5% 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.