The Town FilesFairfield Bay, Arkansas
City in Van Buren County · population 2,108 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $164,800
- Household income
- $56,594
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 68.4
Fairfield Bay is a city of 2,108 people in Van Buren County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $164,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks quieter than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 96% of Arkansas towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Arkansas towns.
How Fairfield Bay ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfield Bay is worth $164,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $56,594, which is more affordable than 41% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $838 a month. 87.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfield Bay | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $838 | $792 |
| Median household income | $56,594 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 87.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.6% | — |
Who lives in Fairfield Bay
| People | Fairfield Bay | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 68.4 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 58.7% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 6.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 18.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 84.4% |
Weather in Fairfield Bay
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield Bay since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 5, 2008 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 138 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 1, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 1973.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 3,804 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,889 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Fairfield Bay itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Fairfield Bay
- Greers Ferry, AR5.9 mi · 821 people · home $207,000
- Clinton, AR10.8 mi · 2,509 people · home $126,800
- Heber Springs, AR15.1 mi · 6,969 people · home $176,300
- Quitman, AR15.4 mi · 694 people · home $110,600
- Tumbling Shoals, AR17.2 mi · 902 people · home $120,200
- Guy, AR19.4 mi · 752 people · home $246,600
- Mountain View, AR20.0 mi · 2,877 people · home $203,900
- Greenbrier, AR26.6 mi · 5,707 people · home $206,600
Fairfield Bay questions
Is Fairfield Bay, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfield Bay scores better for retirees than 96% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 99%. 58.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 68.4).
How much does a house cost in Fairfield Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfield Bay is valued at $164,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,594, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $838 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfield Bay?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairfield Bay get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)