Fort Smith, AR · standard
ZIP Code 72916
Sebastian County, Arkansas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,131
- 80/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $87,983
- Median income Above-median income area
- $263,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 40.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fort Smith pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 29%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 80
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 72916 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 72916 (Fort Smith, AR) rose +6.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.8 in 2023 to 226.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 72916 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, home to 7,131 residents across 89.7 square miles, a density of 80 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 72916 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $87,983 (55% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while per-capita income is $70,888. The poverty rate is 8.3%, with unemployment at 1.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $263,700 (81% above the average Arkansas ZIP), while 71.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,242.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.9, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Sebastian County, so 72916 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 72916
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fort Smith, AR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72916.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
49 establishments
- Construction
Construction
43 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
27 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
26 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
24 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 72916, 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
7,131
Population
89.7
Area (sq mi)
80
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72916?
38.9
Median Age
47.8%
Male
52.2%
Female
7.0%
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?
$87,983
Median Household Income
+55% vs state ZIP avg
$70,888
Per Capita Income
8.3%
Poverty Rate
1.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 72916 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)
$87,983 Top 6% higher than 94% 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
4,984housing units
4,984
Total Housing Units
4,732
Occupied Units
252
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$263,700
Median Home Value
+81% vs state ZIP avg
$1,242
Median Rent
2004
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
+6.3%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72916 have increased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 152 |
| 2021 | +11.4% | 169 |
| 2022 | +15.3% | 195 |
| 2023 | +9.0% | 213 |
| 2024 | +6.3% | 226 |
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 316 business establishments in ZIP 72916, employing approximately 5,822 people with a combined annual payroll of $425,465,000.
316
Businesses
5,822
Employees
$425.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 49 | 15.5% |
| Construction | 43 | 13.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 27 | 8.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 8.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 7.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 7.3% |
| Retail trade | 21 | 6.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 21 | 6.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 19 | 6.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 18 | 5.7% |
| Manufacturing | 15 | 4.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 13 | 4.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.9% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 4 | 1.3% |
| Information | 4 | 1.3% |
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 72916 vs 72908 →
ZIP 72916 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 72903
Fort Smith (72903)
26,148 residents
- 72904
Fort Smith (72904)
21,893 residents
- 72901
Fort Smith (72901)
21,591 residents
- 72908
Fort Smith (72908)
13,378 residents
- 72916 7,131
Fort Smith (72916)
7,131 residents
- 72923 4,735
Barling (72923)
4,735 residents
- 74902 4,095
Pocola (74902)
4,095 residents
- 72937 3,858
Hackett (72937)
3,858 residents
- 74901 1,992
Arkoma (74901)
1,992 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 72916 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 72916 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
- 72937
Hackett (72937)
$61,590 median income
- 72903
Fort Smith (72903)
$61,434 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
- 72904
Fort Smith (72904)
$41,909 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 72916 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72908 | Fort Smith, AR | 13,378 | 3.2 mi |
| 72903 | Fort Smith, AR | 26,148 | 5.8 mi |
| 72923 | Barling, AR | 4,735 | 5.1 mi |
| 74902 | Pocola, OK | 4,095 | 6.1 mi |
| 72901 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,591 | 7.2 mi |
| 72904 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,893 | 10.1 mi |
| 72937 | Hackett, AR | 3,858 | 9.4 mi |
| 74901 | Arkoma, OK | 1,992 | 7.2 mi |
| 74946 | Moffett, OK | 137 | 9.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 72916, 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 (7,131 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 72916 in?
ZIP code 72916 (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 72916?
ZIP code 72916 in Fort Smith, AR has a population of 7,131 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 72916?
The median household income in ZIP 72916 is $87,983, which is 15% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 72916?
The median home value in ZIP 72916 is $263,700, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72916?
The largest racial group in ZIP 72916 is White at 76.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72916?
ZIP code 72916 has 316 business establishments employing approximately 5,822 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72916?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 72916 are: Health care and social assistance (49), Construction (43), Real estate and rental and leasing (27). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72916?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 72916 increased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. 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 72916?
In ZIP code 72916, 67.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.1% 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 72916?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 72916 is 20.2 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 72916?
In ZIP code 72916, approximately 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 72916?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 72916 is 8.3% 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 72916's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 72916 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
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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.