71602 and 71603 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
71602
71603
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 6%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Growth
31 · Bottom 18%
vs31 · Bottom 18%
Climate
68 · Bottom 45%
vs68 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 22%
vs95 · Top 20%
Access
81 · Bottom 22%
vs74 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
24 · Bottom 5%
vs30 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | 71602 | 71603 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,990 | 29,578 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,204 | $53,130 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,583 | $28,652 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 114/sq mi | 176/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $121,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $937 | $891 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.2% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 6.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 22.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 15.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 13 | 13 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 85.7% | 85.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.8" | 50.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 32 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 41.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.27 | 12.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 80.5% | 72.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
71602
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
71603
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: 71602 — Pine Bluff, AR · 71603 — Pine Bluff, AR · How this is calculated: methodology