City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Fairfield Bay, AR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fairfield Bay - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,247
Residents
$54,735
Median income
$157,300
Median home
$880
Median rent (state)

Fairfield Bay - the verdict

Nationally, Fairfield Bay sits in the 27th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
42nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fairfield Bay, AR

Fairfield Bay is a small town in Arkansas, home to 2,247 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fairfield Bay brings in $54,735 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.7%. Fairfield Bay's housing stock carries a median value of $157,300, and the median resident age is 68.6 years. 31.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 29.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 16 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 433% from five years earlier. Fairfield Bay reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1601.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arkansas scores 86.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $880 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arkansas run around $210, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 50.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

2,247 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$54,735 /yr

Poverty 2.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Fairfield Bay compare to other US cities?

Fairfield Bay measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Arkansas alone, Fairfield Bay ranks #70 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fairfield Bay against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arkansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arkansas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fairfield Bay near the bottom of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fairfield Bay ranks #277 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fairfield Bay only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#180 of 495
64th percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#277 of 524
0th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#121 of 482
75th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#446 of 524
15th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#44 of 524
92nd percentile in Arkansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arkansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

27thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fairfield Bay's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fairfield Bay's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 51 Avg. percentile National median
Fairfield Bay's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fairfield Bay's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$157,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fairfield Bay $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fairfield Bay, AR Fairfield Bay, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fairfield Bay, AR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fairfield Bay, AR median $54,735/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fairfield Bay, AR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fairfield Bay, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 29.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,247
Median Income
$54,735
Median Home Value
$157,300
Median Age
68.6
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor force participation
29.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1601.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
228.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1373.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,050 residents2,100 residents2,150 residents2,200 residents2,250 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,106 residents 2,198 residents ▲ +4.4%
Fairfield Bay's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
16
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 9
2021 9
2022 15
2023 5
2024 16

Permit volume increased 433% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.4%
Carpool
2.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.5%
Other
8.0%

Based on 619 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arkansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$210
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arkansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arkansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fairfield Bay sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$880/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
50.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Marked Tree
2,235 people
Star City
2,234 people
Melbourne
2,227 people
Eureka Springs
2,269 people
Gassville
2,216 people
Lake
2,280 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfield Bay's 2,247 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Riverside, AL
2,247 people
Campbell, FL
2,247 people
Boronda, CA
2,246 people
Carbon Cliff, IL
2,248 people
Hull, IA
2,248 people
Brooks, KY
2,246 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfield Bay's $54,735 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Baldwin, GA
$54,741 median income
Palmetto, GA
$54,745 median income
Juniata, NE
$54,722 median income
Big Run, PA
$54,722 median income
Mabton, WA
$54,722 median income
Resaca, GA
$54,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fairfield Bay, AR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fairfield Bay, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.2% White 93.6% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 2.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fairfield Bay compares to nearby Arkansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fairfield Bay (this city) 2,247 $54,735
Marked Tree 2,235 $45,197
Star City 2,234 $52,039
Melbourne 2,227 $34,303
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fairfield Bay, AR?

What is the population of Fairfield Bay, AR? +

Fairfield Bay, AR counts 2,247 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fairfield Bay, AR? +

In Fairfield Bay, the typical household earns $54,735 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fairfield Bay? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fairfield Bay; the closest available measure is the Arkansas state average, a cost of living index of 86.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arkansas vary by metro area.

Is Fairfield Bay, AR safe? +

Fairfield Bay has a total crime rate of 1601.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fairfield Bay, AR? +

Homes in Fairfield Bay carry a median value of $157,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.