2026 Rankings

Worst Infrastructure: Arkansas — 2026 Rankings

Last updated: October 15, 2026

566 ZIP codes ranked by Infrastructure Stress Indicator #1: ZIP 71764 (Stephens, AR) - 68/100

Out of 566 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in Arkansas, these areas have the highest modeled infrastructure stress indicator values, computed from area-level data on infrastructure age, funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. The indicator is not a measured failure probability or forecast.

Statistic Value
ZIP codes ranked 566
Highest stress indicator 68/100
Median stress indicator 38/100
Average stress indicator 39/100
State Arkansas

Top 100 ZIP Codes by Infrastructure Stress

Rank ZIP Code City State Infrastructure Stress Stress Level Safety Score
1 71764 Stephens AR 68/100 Very High —
2 72838 Gravelly AR 68/100 Very High —
3 71640 Eudora AR 65/100 Very High —
4 72342 Helena AR 64/100 Very High —
5 72945 Midland AR 63/100 Very High —
6 72353 Lambrook AR 62/100 Very High —
7 72390 West Helena AR 62/100 Very High —
8 72617 Big Flat AR 62/100 Very High —
9 72424 Datto AR 61/100 Very High —
10 72431 Grubbs AR 61/100 Very High —
11 72685 Western Grove AR 61/100 Very High —
12 71940 Delight AR 60/100 High —
13 72180 Woodson AR 60/100 High —
14 72414 Black Oak AR 60/100 High —
15 72666 Parthenon AR 60/100 High —
16 72669 Pindall AR 60/100 High —
17 72683 Vendor AR 60/100 High —
18 71827 Buckner AR 59/100 High —
19 72083 Keo AR 59/100 High —
20 72630 Diamond City AR 59/100 High —
21 72648 Marble Falls AR 59/100 High 83/100
22 71724 Calion AR 58/100 High —
23 71864 Willisville AR 58/100 High —
24 72169 Tupelo AR 58/100 High —
25 72320 Brickeys AR 58/100 High —
26 72355 Lexa AR 58/100 High —
27 72449 O Kean AR 58/100 High —
28 72457 Portia AR 58/100 High —
29 72641 Jasper AR 58/100 High —
30 71770 Waldo AR 57/100 High —
31 71958 Murfreesboro AR 57/100 High —
32 72389 Wabash AR 57/100 High —
33 72430 Greenway AR 57/100 High —
34 72462 Reyno AR 57/100 High —
35 72640 Hasty AR 57/100 High —
36 71653 Lake Village AR 56/100 High —
37 71801 Hope AR 56/100 High —
38 72061 Guy AR 56/100 High —
39 72123 Patterson AR 56/100 High —
40 72427 Egypt AR 56/100 High —
41 72578 Sturkie AR 56/100 High —
42 72842 Havana AR 56/100 High —
43 72853 Ola AR 56/100 High —
44 71647 Hermitage AR 55/100 High —
45 71838 Fulton AR 55/100 High —
46 71852 Nashville AR 55/100 High —
47 72112 Newport AR 55/100 High —
48 72536 Franklin AR 55/100 High —
49 71942 Friendship AR 54/100 High —
50 72207 Little Rock AR 54/100 High 92/100
51 72331 Earle AR 54/100 High —
52 72650 Marshall AR 54/100 High —
53 72901 Fort Smith AR 54/100 High —
54 71857 Prescott AR 53/100 High —
55 72360 Marianna AR 53/100 High —
56 71638 Dermott AR 52/100 High —
57 71835 Emmet AR 52/100 High —
58 72039 Damascus AR 52/100 High —
59 72205 Little Rock AR 52/100 High 92/100
60 72333 Elaine AR 52/100 High —
61 72348 Hughes AR 52/100 High —
62 72368 Moro AR 52/100 High —
63 71839 Garland City AR 51/100 High —
64 71855 Ozan AR 51/100 High —
65 71858 Rosston AR 51/100 High —
66 71859 Saratoga AR 51/100 High —
67 72301 West Memphis AR 51/100 High 83/100
68 72327 Crawfordsville AR 51/100 High 83/100
69 72540 Guion AR 51/100 High —
70 72626 Cotter AR 51/100 High —
71 72740 Huntsville AR 51/100 High —
72 72760 Saint Paul AR 51/100 High —
73 72947 Mulberry AR 51/100 High —
74 71601 Pine Bluff AR 50/100 High —
75 71747 Huttig AR 50/100 High 75/100
76 72178 West Point AR 50/100 High —
77 72202 Little Rock AR 50/100 High 92/100
78 72365 Marked Tree AR 50/100 High —
79 72410 Alicia AR 50/100 High —
80 72413 Biggers AR 50/100 High —
81 72456 Pollard AR 50/100 High —
82 72470 Success AR 50/100 High —
83 72628 Deer AR 50/100 High —
84 72824 Belleville AR 50/100 High —
85 72833 Danville AR 50/100 High —
86 72943 Magazine AR 50/100 High —
87 71663 Portland AR 49/100 High —
88 71860 Stamps AR 49/100 High —
89 71961 Oden AR 49/100 High —
90 72175 Wabbaseka AR 49/100 High —
91 72904 Fort Smith AR 49/100 High —
92 72940 Huntington AR 49/100 High —
93 71766 Thornton AR 48/100 High —
94 71833 Dierks AR 48/100 High —
95 71957 Mount Ida AR 48/100 High —
96 71965 Pencil Bluff AR 48/100 High —
97 72204 Little Rock AR 48/100 High 92/100
98 72227 Little Rock AR 48/100 High 92/100
99 72454 Piggott AR 48/100 High —
100 72668 Peel AR 48/100 High —

Methodology

Infrastructure stress rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA 2023) — state-level 20-year infrastructure need per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) available Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and testing results. The combined value is a normalized 0-100 comparative stress indicator, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-10-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the infrastructure stress indicator mean?

The indicator summarizes infrastructure funding gaps, housing age, violation history, and lead indicators on a 0-100 scale. It is a comparative heuristic, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast of a water-main break.

How is infrastructure stress calculated?

The indicator combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure need per capita (EPA DWINSA 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system compliance history (EPA SDWIS), and available lead indicators.

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Ask your water utility or health department about testing your tap water, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. If you use a filter, choose one certified under NSF/ANSI 53 for the specific contaminant, such as lead. Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high stress mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure stress is a screening indicator of long-term vulnerability, not a measurement of current contamination or a prediction of failure. For current conditions, check utility notices and the latest Consumer Confidence Report, and test your tap for contaminants of concern.

Explore More Rankings

How this ranking is calculated, data sources, and limitations: Rankings Methodology →


Related Rankings

Water Safety 2026 EPA violations and water quality scores Lead Risk 2026 Lead service-line indicators and system-level action-level exceedances Infrastructure 2026 Aging pipes, system age and remediation costs
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on EPA, FEMA, and federal agency data. They reflect historical patterns and risk indicators, not necessarily current conditions. For the most current information, contact your local water utility or request a Consumer Confidence Report.

Get safety alerts for Arkansas

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.