ZIP Code 72521, Arkansas
ZIP Code 72521 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 72521 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Independence County / Sharp County, Arkansas. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 4,910. The land area covers 118.73 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 4,910 | ±594 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 40.5 yrs | ±3.6 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 1,846 | ±224 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 2,249 | ±258 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 1,846 | ±224 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 403 | ±156 |
| Median Home Value | $146,800 | ±$35,693 |
| Median Gross Rent | $788 | ±$90 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,591 | ±$5,836 |
| Per Capita Income | $26,947 | ±$3,530 |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | ±4.9% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 737 | ±252 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | ±2% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 2,094 | ±321 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 73.6% | ±5.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
COUNTY OF INDEPENDENCE
GUS Population: 38,345 (2024)
ID: 122829
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: COUNTY JUDGE
192 E MAIN ST, BATESVILLE AR 72501-5508
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BATESVILLE, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | BATESVILLE, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | CAVE CITY, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | CAVE CITY, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | CAVE CITY, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BATESVILLE, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | 07-12 | STRAWBERRY, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BATESVILLE, AR | |
| Career and Technical School Nearby | 09-12 | Batesville, AR | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | BATESVILLE, AR |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville
|
College | 11.6 mi away | 2005 White Drive, Batesville, AR, 72503-3350 |
8706122000
|
|
SHARP COUNTY LIBRARY-CAVE CITY
|
Library | 0.7 mi away | 133 SOUTH MAIN STREET, CAVE CITY, AR, 72521 |
(870) 283-6947
|
|
Lyon College
|
College | 12.8 mi away | 2300 Highland Road, Batesville, AR, 72501 |
8703077000
|
|
SHARP COUNTY LIBRARY-EVENING SHADE
|
Library | 9.5 mi away | 227 WEST MAIN STREET, EVENING SHADE, AR, 72532 |
(870) 266-3873
|
|
Ozarka College
|
College | 21.1 mi away | 218 College Dr, Melbourne, AR, 72556-0010 |
8703682300
|
|
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.8 mi away | 367 EAST MAIN STREET, BATESVILLE, AR, 72501 |
(870) 793-8814
|
|
DRIFTWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.6 mi away | 28S HWY 25, LYNN, AR, 72440 |
(870) 528-3506
|
|
MELBOURNE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.9 mi away | 1007 E. MAIN STREET, MELBOURNE, AR, 72556 |
(870) 368-7467
|
|
HORSESHOE BEND BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 23.0 mi away | 9 CLUB ROAD, HORSESHOE BEND, AR, 72512 |
(870) 670-4318
|
|
TUCKERMAN CITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 24.3 mi away | 200 W MAIN, TUCKERMAN, AR, 72473 |
(870) 349-5313
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at EVENING SHADE 1 NNE, AR US, located 9.9 miles from ZCTA5 72521. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45.4° | 24.0° | 34.7° | 3.53" | 1.8" |
| February | 50.6° | 27.1° | 38.8° | 3.69" | 2.6" |
| March | 59.8° | 35.6° | 47.7° | 4.88" | 1.4" |
| April | 69.8° | 44.6° | 57.2° | 5.54" | 0.1" |
| May | 76.9° | 54.2° | 65.5° | 5.59" | 0.0" |
| June | 85.1° | 63.0° | 74.0° | 3.23" | 0.0" |
| July | 89.2° | 66.6° | 77.9° | 4.32" | 0.0" |
| August | 88.5° | 64.9° | 76.7° | 3.82" | 0.0" |
| September | 81.7° | 56.7° | 69.2° | 3.35" | 0.0" |
| October | 71.3° | 44.2° | 57.8° | 4.06" | 0.1" |
| November | 58.3° | 34.4° | 46.4° | 4.91" | 0.0" |
| December | 47.8° | 27.1° | 37.5° | 4.53" | 0.7" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cave City city | City | 0.4 mi | — |
| Sidney town | Town | 7.6 mi | — |
| Evening Shade city | City | 9.5 mi | — |
| Strawberry town | Town | 12.4 mi | — |
| Moorefield town | Town | 12.7 mi | — |
| Batesville city | City | 13.3 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 72521. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.