Fairfield Bay: Demographics & People
Fairfield Bay's population stands at 2,515 people, in 1,525 households. Population grew 11.9% from 2,247 (2022) to 2,515 (2024). Median age 68.4 years. (18.8y older than Van Buren County; 32.5y older than Arkansas). Children under 18 are 6% of the population. Population is 88% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.17). 55% of households are family-led. County is gaining 727 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 1.6 people per household (vs Arkansas avg 2.5).
- 45% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Arkansas 38%).
- 187 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Arkansas 69).
Population & Trend
Population grew 11.9% from 2,247 (2022) to 2,515 (2024) — about 19.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,823 (extrapolated at 6.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,271.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 24,711 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 11.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,247 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,515 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 2,515 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
| Population Estimate | 3,271 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 68.4y is 29.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 6% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 68.4 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 6.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,515 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 162 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 201.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 676.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,476 |
| Population under 18 | 162 |
| Median age | 68.4 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,515 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.17 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 2,103 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 20 |
| Asian residents | 46 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 139 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 16.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 91.1% |
| Asian population | 2.0% (vs Arkansas 1.5%) |
| Black population | 0.4% (vs Arkansas 7.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.1% (vs Arkansas 7.7%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 88.3% (vs Arkansas 61.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 628 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,747 |
| Share born in this state | 25.0% |
| Share born in another state | 75.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 69.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 53 |
| From Europe | 19 |
| From Africa | 18 |
Households & Family Composition
1,525 households. Averaging 1.6 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 55% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 714 families, 10% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 109 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 714 |
| Married couples with children | 72 |
| Single-parent households | 22 |
| Average household size | 1.58 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 6.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 8 |
| Family households | 839 households (vs Arkansas 7,015) |
| Households that are families | 55.0% (vs Arkansas 62.3%) |
| Total households | 1,525 households (vs Arkansas 11,107) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 9.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 727 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 9.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 23,317 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 22,590 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 727 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 400 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 17.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 24 residents live in group quarters (1.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 24 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | AR-02 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 05023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 05 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Cleburne |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 38.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 45.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 05023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Cleburne County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 999 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 05023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Cleburne County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 54.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 46.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 24,919 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 6.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 10 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 6.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,515, booming, retirement community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,515 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
| Town Summary · County | Cleburne County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade