ZIP Code · AR

ZIP 72916

Part of Fort Smith, AR

Pop. 11,711·Sebastian County·30th most expensive ZIP in Arkansas

Median rent (all units)

$1,356/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$576

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 72916 · $1,356

More affordable than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$860

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,590

4 BR+

$1,930

Research median

$1,180/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Arkansas

Rent in ZIP 72916 changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 44 Arkansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($87,983) is $2,200 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,930).

Rank in Fort Smith

5th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Fort Smith.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 72908, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,210/mo), about $1,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 72916. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,272/yr

At $1,356/mo median

Location

CityFort Smith

StateAR

CountySebastian County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 72916 (Fort Smith, AR) is majority owner-occupied, 40.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

11,711

Median income

$87,983

Median age

38.9

Renters

28.7%

Age distribution

22.3%

22%

21.5%

16.7%

17.5%

Under 1822.3%

18–3422%

35–5421.5%

55–6416.7%

65+17.5%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

76.3%

White76.3%

Black3%

Hispanic6%

Asian7.8%

Other6.9%

Education (25+)

27%

25.5%

40.1%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma27%

Some college25.5%

Bachelor's+40.1%

Housing tenure

71.3%

28.7%

Owner71.3%

Renter28.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 72916 in Fort Smith, AR has changed in 5 years

Income

$75,019 → $87,983

up 17.3%

Population

11,203 → 11,711

up 4.5%

Renter share

29.9% → 28.7%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

40.4% → 40.1%

-0.3 pts

Median age

39.8 → 38.9

-0.9 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $75,019 to $87,983 across the same window, up 17.3% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 72916 in Fort Smith, AR adding about 508 residents over the five-year window, up 4.5% on net.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 72916

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 72916

About renting in ZIP 72916

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 72916 covers Fort Smith, AR. The median rent here is $1,356/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($87,983/yr), ZIP 72916 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 72916?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,356/mo in ZIP 72916. The local median household income is $87,983/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 72916?

Rent in ZIP 72916 has risen 3.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 72916 compare to other ZIPs in Arkansas?

ZIP 72916 is in the middle among Arkansas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #30 of 61 at $1,356/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 72916 changed +3.2%, against a typical +2.4% across the 44 Arkansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.