Fairfield Bay: Economy & Jobs
Households in Fairfield Bay earn a median $56,594 (1.1× higher than Van Buren County median $50,354; 1.1× below Arkansas median $60,773), with homes at a median value of $164,800. The surrounding county supports 6,524 jobs (avg $41,874).
- $62,851 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Arkansas $71,436).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $56,594 — below the Arkansas median ($60,273). Poverty rate 11.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 66% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 18.8% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 66.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 11.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.6% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $10,960 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $688,847 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $62,851 (vs Arkansas $71,436) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $62,371 |
| Median Household Income | $56,594 (vs Arkansas $60,273) |
| Poverty Rate | 11.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $56,594 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.1% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 16% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 15.6% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 6,524 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $273,173,647 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $41,874 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,271,320 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.1% (vs Arkansas 2.6%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 502 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 102,892 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 205.00 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 600 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 5,609 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 214,698 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 5 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 16 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 10 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 18 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 15 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 20 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 24 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 6 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 8025 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 1 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | LAVACA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $225,395,392 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 9,121.26 (vs Arkansas $6,659) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 24,711 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 72.0% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 15.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 68.4 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 74.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12