ZIP Code 72956
standardSource:
Van Buren · Crawford County · Arkansas
- Population
- 34,074
- Median income
- $62,988
- Median home value
- $184,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 19.8%
- Land area
- 268.3 sq mi
127/sq mi
▼ 17% vs US
higher than 35% of US ZIPs
▼ 34% vs US
higher than 39% of US ZIPs
Median age 38.5
Chicago
ZIP code 72956 in Van Buren, Arkansas has a population of 34,074. The median household income is $62,988, which is 17% below the national average. Median home value is $184,100, 34% below the US average. 19.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 72956 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 268.3 square miles in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas. The area is home to 34,074 residents, producing a population density of 127 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 72956 against Arkansas and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 72956 sits at $62,988 (11% above the Arkansas average), while per-capita income is $30,291. The poverty rate stands at 13.5% and the unemployment rate at 4.6%. On housing, the median home value is $184,100 (26% above the state average) with median rent at $853 per month, and 71.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 72956 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 19.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Crawford County, so you can benchmark 72956 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 72956
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 72956.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
106 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
81 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
72 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
70 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
67 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 72956, Van Buren, 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
34,074
Population
268.3
Area (sq mi)
127
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 72956?
38.5
Median Age
48.9%
Male
51.1%
Female
6.4%
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?
$62,988
Median Household Income
+11% vs state
$30,291
Per Capita Income
13.5%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
21.1 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?
14,574
Total Housing Units
13,475
Occupied Units
1,099
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$184,100
Median Home Value
+26% vs state
$853
Median Rent
1991
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
+1.8%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 72956 have increased 1.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.3% | 149 |
| 2021 | +12.6% | 167 |
| 2022 | +18.6% | 199 |
| 2023 | +11.9% | 222 |
| 2024 | +1.8% | 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 718 business establishments in ZIP 72956, employing approximately 11,839 people with a combined annual payroll of $554,053,000.
718
Businesses
11,839
Employees
$554.1M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 106 | 14.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 81 | 11.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 72 | 10.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 70 | 9.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 67 | 9.3% |
| Construction | 61 | 8.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 49 | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 43 | 6.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 43 | 6.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 27 | 3.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 27 | 3.8% |
| Information | 15 | 2.1% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 8 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 0.7% |
| Educational services | 4 | 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 72956 vs 72904 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72904 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,893 | 4.2 mi |
| 72903 | Fort Smith, AR | 26,148 | 8.1 mi |
| 72952 | Rudy, AR | 2,945 | 7.5 mi |
| 72932 | Cedarville, AR | 1,597 | 9.5 mi |
| 72901 | Fort Smith, AR | 21,591 | 8.0 mi |
| 74946 | Moffett, OK | 137 | 7.8 mi |
| 74954 | Roland, OK | 4,590 | 8.8 mi |
| 74901 | Arkoma, OK | 1,992 | 10.3 mi |
| 72955 | Uniontown, AR | 438 | 11.3 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Crawford County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 72956 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 72956? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 72956? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 72956? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 72956? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 72956? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 72956? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 72956? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 72956? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 72956? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 72956? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Van Buren, 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.