Latest Census data adds another measure of momentum to western Arkansas’s growing master-planned community

Chaffee Crossing has long offered developers and builders a compelling combination of location, infrastructure, quality of place and room to grow. A recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data adds another measure of strength to that story: household income in the surrounding market.

ZIP code 72916, which includes Chaffee Crossing, ranks second among Arkansas’s richest ZIP codes, reporting estimated average household income of $191,690.

The analysis is based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates. The Census Bureau released those estimates in January 2026 based on data collected from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2024. ACS five-year estimates provide current demographic, economic, housing and social information for communities of all sizes.

For developers, builders, investors and end users evaluating opportunities in western Arkansas, that income figure adds to a much larger growth story already unfolding at Chaffee Crossing.

A Growing Market With a Strong Foundation

Chaffee Crossing is the master-planned redevelopment of historic Fort Chaffee within Fort Smith and Barling, Arkansas. The community combines residential neighborhoods, employment centers, healthcare, education, retail, recreation and entertainment within a long-term mixed-use development plan.

Today, more than 7,000 people live at Chaffee Crossing, more than 3,800 work here, and more than 2,800 residential units have been built.

Major organizations have already demonstrated their confidence in the area. Arkansas Colleges of Health Education has established a growing healthcare-education campus at Chaffee Crossing. ArcBest located its corporate headquarters here. Mars Petcare, Graphic Packaging International, Umarex USA, Walther Arms, Magnera, Phoenix Metals, Old Dominion Freight Line and Romark Logistics are among the companies with significant operations in the community.

That combination of employment, housing and household purchasing power creates opportunities for additional residential, retail, hospitality, entertainment and mixed-use development.

Quality of Place Is Part of the Development Story

Chaffee Crossing’s appeal extends well beyond traditional economic-development statistics.

The community is home to 37 miles of walking and biking trails and the 170-acre Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. The surrounding region offers additional opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation.

Historic Fort Chaffee adds another dimension. Preserved military buildings, museums and cultural attractions coexist with new housing, restaurants, retail, live music, events and public art, helping create a distinctive sense of place.

The community also includes three designated entertainment districts, growing residential neighborhoods, town centers and public spaces connected by trails and open space.

Together, these attributes reflect the long-term smart-growth vision of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority and its Board of Trustees.

Connected to a Growing Region

Location and transportation access further strengthen Chaffee Crossing’s development potential.

Arkansas Highways 22, 59 and 255 connect Chaffee Crossing with Fort Smith and surrounding communities, while U.S. Highway 549, planned as future Interstate 49, provides an important north-south connection. Class I rail service, Arkansas River ports and Fort Smith Regional Airport provide additional transportation and logistics access.

The Foreign Military Sales pilot training program at adjacent Ebbing Air National Guard Base is also expected to generate additional demand for housing, retail, hospitality and service businesses as international pilots and support personnel train in the Fort Smith area.

Your Land Is Ready

For developers and builders, Chaffee Crossing’s growth story is far from complete.

Available property can accommodate residential neighborhoods, active 55+ lifestyle communities, retail centers, mixed-use developments, corporate offices, institutional campuses and specialized industrial facilities.

Chaffee Crossing can tailor sites to individual development needs, with parcels ranging from large tracts suitable for anchor users to mid-size and smaller sites for developers, builders and owner-occupants.

The estimated $191,690 average household income for ZIP code 72916 adds another positive indicator to a development environment already supported by population growth, employment, infrastructure, amenities and available land.

No single statistic defines Chaffee Crossing’s potential. The larger opportunity comes from the combination of people, jobs, investment, connectivity, quality of place and room to grow.

Catch the Momentum. Come Grow With Us.

Whether you are considering residential, retail, mixed-use, office, healthcare, institutional or industrial development, Chaffee Crossing offers an increasingly rare combination: an established master-planned community with significant investment already in place and opportunities for what comes next.

Your land is ready.

To explore current land and development opportunities at Chaffee Crossing, contact:

Daniel Mann
Executive Director & CEO
Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority
479-452-4554
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Data source: 40/29 Get the Facts analysis using U.S. Census Bureau 2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates.