Zip code 72521: Cave City, Arkansas

Q: What city is zip code 72521?

72521 is assigned to Cave City, Arkansas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 72521 in?

72521 is mostly in Sharp County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 72521?

About 4,910 people live in 72521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 72521?

The median household income in 72521 is $59,591.

Q: What zip codes are near 72521?

The closest zip codes to 72521 are 72579, 72532, 72569, 72522, 72577.

Residential delivery areaSharp CountyCentral Time

Population

4,910

Median household income

$60K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$147K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$788/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

119 sq mi

41 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 72521

72521 is a rural zip code in Cave City, Arkansas (Sharp County), covering 119 sq mi of land. About 4,910 people live here, or 41 per square mile. The median resident is 40.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,591 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $146,800, or 2.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 68% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $788 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.7 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; transportation and moving goods; and office and administrative support.

How 72521 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy17.9%
91st
U.S. 10.1% · AR 13.5%255th of 545 in AR
Healthcare workers11.3%
74th
U.S. 9.7% · AR 10.5%175th of 549 in AR
Poverty rate15.2%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · AR 16%298th of 545 in AR
Residents 65 and older18.6%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · AR 17.6%303rd of 550 in AR
Residents under 1823.6%
64th
U.S. 22% · AR 23.1%214th of 550 in AR
Government workers15.5%
63rd
U.S. 14.5% · AR 15.2%268th of 549 in AR
Uninsured rate8.5%
62nd
U.S. 8.4% · AR 9%234th of 548 in AR
Median age40.5
61st
U.S. 38.9 · AR 38.5335th of 550 in AR
Average commute27.7 min
61st
U.S. 26.4 min · AR 22.5 min191st of 508 in AR
Self-employed workers9.8%
56th
U.S. 10% · AR 10.4%291st of 549 in AR
Homeownership rate68.4%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · AR 66.4%411th of 545 in AR
Veterans5.7%
48th
U.S. 6.2% · AR 7.4%361st of 550 in AR
Rent-burdened renters48.1%
40th
U.S. 51.1% · AR 44.8%212th of 498 in AR
Income inequality (Gini)0.422
38th
U.S. 0.483 · AR 0.479291st of 542 in AR
Unemployment rate3.6%
26th
U.S. 5.2% · AR 4.9%296th of 549 in AR
Median earnings per worker$40,658
23rd
U.S. $49,666 · AR $41,934237th of 542 in AR
Median household income$59,591
20th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · AR $60,773179th of 495 in AR
Tech workers1.2%
17th
U.S. 3.8% · AR 2.5%185th of 549 in AR
Foreign-born residents2.7%
16th
U.S. 14.1% · AR 5.4%153rd of 550 in AR
Per capita income$26,947
12th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · AR $34,225323rd of 550 in AR
Median home value$146,800
9th
U.S. $332,700 · AR $188,000214th of 509 in AR
Diversity index16.1
9th
U.S. 61.4 · AR 51.2399th of 550 in AR
Population4,910
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AR 3,049,391145th of 550 in AR
Bachelor's degree or higher14.1%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · AR 25.7%320th of 549 in AR
Population density41/sq mi
6th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AR 59/sq mi201st of 550 in AR
Median gross rent$788
6th
U.S. $1,413 · AR $947207th of 395 in AR
Work from home2.8%
2nd
U.S. 15.1% · AR 8.8%358th of 549 in AR
Broadband access73.6%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · AR 86.7%437th of 545 in AR

Measure	72521	Sharp	AR	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AR
Housing vacancy	17.9%	28%	13.5%	10.1%	91st	255th of 545
Healthcare workers	11.3%	13.2%	10.5%	9.7%	74th	175th of 549
Poverty rate	15.2%	16.5%	16%	12.5%	70th	298th of 545
Residents 65 and older	18.6%	25.5%	17.6%	17.2%	65th	303rd of 550
Residents under 18	23.6%	20.4%	23.1%	22%	64th	214th of 550
Government workers	15.5%	14.8%	15.2%	14.5%	63rd	268th of 549
Uninsured rate	8.5%	8.2%	9%	8.4%	62nd	234th of 548
Median age	40.5	47.1	38.5	38.9	61st	335th of 550
Average commute	27.7 min	27.5 min	22.5 min	26.4 min	61st	191st of 508
Self-employed workers	9.8%	11.7%	10.4%	10%	56th	291st of 549
Homeownership rate	68.4%	78.8%	66.4%	65.2%	49th	411th of 545
Veterans	5.7%	9.2%	7.4%	6.2%	48th	361st of 550
Rent-burdened renters	48.1%	37.8%	44.8%	51.1%	40th	212th of 498
Income inequality (Gini)	0.422	0.506	0.479	0.483	38th	291st of 542
Unemployment rate	3.6%	8.1%	4.9%	5.2%	26th	296th of 549
Median earnings per worker	$40,658	$33,398	$41,934	$49,666	23rd	237th of 542
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,591	$44,637	$60,773	$80,734	20th	179th of 495
Tech workers	1.2%	0.7%	2.5%	3.8%	17th	185th of 549
Foreign-born residents	2.7%	1.3%	5.4%	14.1%	16th	153rd of 550
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,947	$27,969	$34,225	$44,673	12th	323rd of 550
Median home value	$146,800	$105,100	$188,000	$332,700	9th	214th of 509
Diversity index	16.1	17	51.2	61.4	9th	399th of 550
Population	4,910	17,773	3,049,391	334,922,499	8th	145th of 550
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14.1%	13.9%	25.7%	35.7%	8th	320th of 549
Population density	41/sq mi	29/sq mi	59/sq mi	95/sq mi	6th	201st of 550
Median gross rent	$788	$766	$947	$1,413	6th	207th of 395
Work from home	2.8%	7.2%	8.8%	15.1%	2nd	358th of 549
Broadband accessWeakness	73.6%	80%	86.7%	91%	1st	437th of 545

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

19%

5–17

18–24

25–34

14%

35–44

15%

45–54

11%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.5

Under 18

23.6%

65 and over

18.6%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0.8%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

16.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

68.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

Households

Households: 1,846
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 74.7%
Married couples: 62.8%
Living alone: 23.7%
Veterans (of adults): 5.7%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

72521

$59,591

Sharp Co.

$44,637

Arkansas

$60,773

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,947

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.422

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

72521

$146,800

Sharp Co.

$105,100

Arkansas

$188,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

72521

$788

Sharp Co.

$766

Arkansas

$947

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

71%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.3%

Mobile home

23%

Boat, RV, van

0.4%

Housing units: 2,249
Owner-occupied: 68.4%
Vacant: 17.9%
Median year built: 1983
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 25.3%
Home value to income: 2.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

18%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

21%

20–29

32%

30–44

22%

45–59

60+

10%

Average commute

27.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

18%

Transportation and moving

15%

Office and admin

15%

Healthcare

11%

Production

Education

Sales

Management

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Computer and math

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.5%

Legal and social services

0.1%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

23%

Manufacturing

15%

Construction

14%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

14%

Education

Retail

Other services

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

0.8%

Admin, support and management

0.4%

Arts and recreation

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$40,658

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	72521	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$45,625	$74,888
Service	$23,500	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,796	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$57,500	$49,199
Production and transportation	$45,964	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

47%

Some college

17%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 86.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.3%
Households with broadband: 73.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 41.5%
No internet access: 21.3%
Without health insurance: 8.5%
Limited-English households: 0.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Cave City
State: Arkansas
County: Sharp County
Center point: 35.9497° N, 91.5411° W
Land area: 119 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

72521 spans 2 counties

Sharp County68% of land
Independence County32% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Cave City2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 72521

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
72579	Sulphur Rock, AR	9.2 mi	1,407	$104,167	—
72532	Evening Shade, AR	9.8 mi	1,618	$38,750	$113,100
72569	Poughkeepsie, AR	10 mi	279	$58,365	$207,000
72522	Charlotte, AR	11 mi	191	$36,591	$26,700
72577	Sidney, AR	11 mi	815	$55,959	$128,200
72501	Batesville, AR	13 mi	26,218	$52,829	$147,900
72466	Smithville, AR	13 mi	1,461	$79,808	$165,100
72526	Cushman, AR	14 mi	158	$63,333	$127,000
72469	Strawberry, AR	14 mi	1,050	$44,421	$161,100
72572	Saffell, AR	14 mi	360	$67,619	$151,100
72503	Batesville, AR · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
72524	Cord, AR	15 mi	163	—	—

Zip codes like 72521 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 72521

What city is zip code 72521?

72521 is assigned to Cave City, Arkansas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 72521 in?

72521 is mostly in Sharp County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 72521?

About 4,910 people live in 72521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 72521 in?

72521 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 72521?

The median household income in 72521 is $59,591.

What zip codes are near 72521?

The closest zip codes to 72521 are 72579, 72532, 72569, 72522, 72577.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 72521, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.