Zip code 72542: Hardy, Arkansas

Q: What city is zip code 72542?

72542 is assigned to Hardy, Arkansas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 72542 in?

72542 is mostly in Sharp County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 72542?

About 4,072 people live in 72542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 72542?

The median household income in 72542 is $41,295.

Q: What zip codes are near 72542?

The closest zip codes to 72542 are 72529, 72482, 72525, 72459, 72554.

Residential delivery areaSharp CountyCentral Time

Population

4,072

Median household income

$41K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$99K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$646/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

155 sq mi

26 people/sq mi

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

About 72542

72542 is a rural zip code in Hardy, Arkansas (Sharp County), covering 155 sq mi of land. About 4,072 people live here, or 26 per square mile. The median resident is 43.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $41,295 a year, about 51% of 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 $98,500, or 2.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $646 a month.

13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 24.2 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; healthcare; and sales.

How 72542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy29.5%
98th
U.S. 10.1% · AR 13.5%88th of 545 in AR
Healthcare workers15.5%
96th
U.S. 9.7% · AR 10.5%75th of 549 in AR
Veterans11.8%
94th
U.S. 6.2% · AR 7.4%93rd of 550 in AR
Residents 65 and older24.3%
90th
U.S. 17.2% · AR 17.6%173rd of 550 in AR
Self-employed workers14.6%
89th
U.S. 10% · AR 10.4%142nd of 549 in AR
Homeownership rate83.2%
85th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · AR 66.4%183rd of 545 in AR
Government workers19.9%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · AR 15.2%156th of 549 in AR
Income inequality (Gini)0.483
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · AR 0.479108th of 542 in AR
Median age43.9
81st
U.S. 38.9 · AR 38.5240th of 550 in AR
Poverty rate15.2%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · AR 16%299th of 545 in AR
Unemployment rate5.8%
65th
U.S. 5.2% · AR 4.9%177th of 549 in AR
Uninsured rate8.4%
62nd
U.S. 8.4% · AR 9%241st of 548 in AR
Average commute24.2 min
38th
U.S. 26.4 min · AR 22.5 min277th of 508 in AR
Residents under 1820.8%
38th
U.S. 22% · AR 23.1%321st of 550 in AR
Work from home10.3%
36th
U.S. 15.1% · AR 8.8%117th of 549 in AR
Tech workers1.2%
17th
U.S. 3.8% · AR 2.5%186th of 549 in AR
Diversity index17.8
10th
U.S. 61.4 · AR 51.2375th of 550 in AR
Per capita income$25,017
8th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · AR $34,225393rd of 550 in AR
Rent-burdened renters34.4%
8th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · AR 44.8%333rd of 498 in AR
Population4,072
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AR 3,049,391164th of 550 in AR
Bachelor's degree or higher12.7%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · AR 25.7%355th of 549 in AR
Population density26/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AR 59/sq mi276th of 550 in AR
Median household income$41,295
4th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · AR $60,773398th of 495 in AR
Broadband access79.7%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · AR 86.7%354th of 545 in AR
Median earnings per worker$31,269
4th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · AR $41,934453rd of 542 in AR
Foreign-born residents0.6%
3rd
U.S. 14.1% · AR 5.4%318th of 550 in AR
Median home value$98,500
2nd
U.S. $332,700 · AR $188,000383rd of 509 in AR
Median gross rent$646
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · AR $947312th of 395 in AR

Measure	72542	Sharp	AR	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AR
Housing vacancy	29.5%	28%	13.5%	10.1%	98th	88th of 545
Healthcare workers	15.5%	13.2%	10.5%	9.7%	96th	75th of 549
Veterans	11.8%	9.2%	7.4%	6.2%	94th	93rd of 550
Residents 65 and older	24.3%	25.5%	17.6%	17.2%	90th	173rd of 550
Self-employed workers	14.6%	11.7%	10.4%	10%	89th	142nd of 549
Homeownership rateStrength	83.2%	78.8%	66.4%	65.2%	85th	183rd of 545
Government workers	19.9%	14.8%	15.2%	14.5%	84th	156th of 549
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.483	0.506	0.479	0.483	83rd	108th of 542
Median age	43.9	47.1	38.5	38.9	81st	240th of 550
Poverty rate	15.2%	16.5%	16%	12.5%	70th	299th of 545
Unemployment rate	5.8%	8.1%	4.9%	5.2%	65th	177th of 549
Uninsured rate	8.4%	8.2%	9%	8.4%	62nd	241st of 548
Average commute	24.2 min	27.5 min	22.5 min	26.4 min	38th	277th of 508
Residents under 18	20.8%	20.4%	23.1%	22%	38th	321st of 550
Work from home	10.3%	7.2%	8.8%	15.1%	36th	117th of 549
Tech workers	1.2%	0.7%	2.5%	3.8%	17th	186th of 549
Diversity index	17.8	17	51.2	61.4	10th	375th of 550
Per capita incomeWeakness	$25,017	$27,969	$34,225	$44,673	8th	393rd of 550
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	34.4%	37.8%	44.8%	51.1%	8th	333rd of 498
Population	4,072	17,773	3,049,391	334,922,499	7th	164th of 550
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	12.7%	13.9%	25.7%	35.7%	6th	355th of 549
Population density	26/sq mi	29/sq mi	59/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	276th of 550
Median household incomeWeakness	$41,295	$44,637	$60,773	$80,734	4th	398th of 495
Broadband accessWeakness	79.7%	80%	86.7%	91%	4th	354th of 545
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$31,269	$33,398	$41,934	$49,666	4th	453rd of 542
Foreign-born residents	0.6%	1.3%	5.4%	14.1%	3rd	318th of 550
Median home value	$98,500	$105,100	$188,000	$332,700	2nd	383rd of 509
Median gross rent	$646	$766	$947	$1,413	2nd	312th of 395

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

18%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

12%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

14%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

43.9

Under 18

20.8%

65 and over

24.3%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0%
Hispanic0.7%
Asian0.9%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.0%
Multiracial8%

Diversity index

17.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

56.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

0.9%

Other Indo-European

0.3%

Asian / Pacific

0.2%

Other

Households

Households: 1,537
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 65.1%
Married couples: 54.8%
Living alone: 29.6%
Veterans (of adults): 11.8%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

26%

$25–50k

30%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

13%

$150–200k

0.8%

$200k+

Median household income

72542

$41,295

Sharp Co.

$44,637

Arkansas

$60,773

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$25,017

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.483

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

72542

$98,500

Sharp Co.

$105,100

Arkansas

$188,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

72542

$646

Sharp Co.

$766

Arkansas

$947

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.3%

Mobile home

16%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,179
Owner-occupied: 83.2%
Vacant: 29.5%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 34.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.4%
Home value to income: 2.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

10%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

23%

10–19

32%

20–29

30–44

18%

45–59

11%

60+

10%

Average commute

24.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

46%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

18%

Healthcare

16%

Sales

12%

Construction and repair

11%

Food service

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Management

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Production

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

18%

Retail

15%

Other services

11%

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Manufacturing

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Information

0.9%

Arts and recreation

0.8%

Median earnings per worker

$31,269

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	72542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,367	$74,888
Service	$22,831	$26,804
Sales and office	$28,594	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$29,167	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,833	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

45%

Some college

24%

Associate's

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 12.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.7%
Households with broadband: 79.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 57.6%
No internet access: 13.1%
Without health insurance: 8.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Hardy
State: Arkansas
County: Sharp County
Center point: 36.3004° N, 91.4660° W
Land area: 155 sq mi
Water area: 1.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

72542 spans 2 counties

Sharp County82% of land
Fulton County19% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Highland6% of zip
Hardy3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 72542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
72529	Cherokee Village, AR	5.7 mi	5,059	$37,355	$94,700
72482	Williford, AR	6.4 mi	1,226	$35,855	$72,000
72525	Cherokee Village, AR · PO box	7.3 mi	—	—	—
72459	Ravenden, AR	9.6 mi	1,348	$39,167	$64,000
72554	Mammoth Spring, AR	11 mi	2,817	$42,851	$145,000
72513	Ash Flat, AR	11 mi	2,888	$40,055	$98,100
72539	Glencoe, AR	14 mi	123	$85,625	$102,200
72569	Poughkeepsie, AR	15 mi	279	$58,365	$207,000
72520	Camp, AR	16 mi	307	$23,776	—
72532	Evening Shade, AR	16 mi	1,618	$38,750	$113,100
72512	Horseshoe Bend, AR	17 mi	2,506	$46,449	$130,100
72460	Ravenden Springs, AR	18 mi	1,016	$45,673	$175,500

Zip codes like 72542 elsewhere

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

Questions about 72542

What city is zip code 72542?

72542 is assigned to Hardy, Arkansas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 72542 in?

72542 is mostly in Sharp County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 72542?

About 4,072 people live in 72542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 72542 in?

72542 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 72542?

The median household income in 72542 is $41,295.

What zip codes are near 72542?

The closest zip codes to 72542 are 72529, 72482, 72525, 72459, 72554.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 72542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.