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Living in
Fairhope.
About
Life in Fairhope
Fairhope is a community of 23,360 people in Alabama. The median household income is $94,274, median rent runs about $1,689 per month, and median home values are around $430,900. Unemployment is low at 2.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Fairhope at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Foreign-Born
3.2%
Broadband Internet
90.1%
of households
Population Growth
+16.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.2% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Fairhope: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fairhope, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (32.8%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
26.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.9%
of households
Married Couples
64.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 68% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Fairhope
In Fairhope, rent runs 68% above the AL average, and home values are 105% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,758
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $470,927 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below AL average
Unemployment in Fairhope
Unemployment in Fairhope is 0.4 percentage points lower than the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Fairhope Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.9 min avg
How Fairhope residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fairhope, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Jack Edwards National Airport (GUF)
Regional airport · few flights38k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fairhope runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
141
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,242.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fairhope Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Baldwin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Baldwin County, which includes Fairhope, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $320,000 |
| 2021 | 20 | Flash Flood | $250,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $234.5M |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Rip Current | $165,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Baldwin County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Baldwin County, which includes Fairhope, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
87
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Baldwin County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fairhope has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
68.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 37°F | 5.48" |
| Feb | 65°F | 40°F | 4.65" |
| Mar | 72°F | 46°F | 5.06" |
| Apr | 78°F | 52°F | 5.51" |
| May | 85°F | 60°F | 4.93" |
| Jun | 89°F | 68°F | 6.78" |
| Jul | 91°F | 70°F | 9.03" |
| Aug | 91°F | 69°F | 7.16" |
| Sep | 88°F | 65°F | 6.60" |
| Oct | 81°F | 54°F | 4.38" |
| Nov | 71°F | 44°F | 4.57" |
| Dec | 64°F | 39°F | 5.16" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fairhope
Fairhope has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Thomas Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Eastpointe Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.1 mi away · Daphne
Baldwin Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Foley
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fairhope
Fairhope's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 53.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fairhope (within 15 miles)
United States Sports University
8.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 228 students · in-state tuition $14,840 · 20% graduate · median earnings $56,044 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fairhope
Fairhope has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
41 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fairhope
Fairhope Public Library
501 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope
Cities Near Fairhope
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fairhope?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fairhope FAQ
Is Fairhope, Alabama affordable?⌄
Fairhope's median rent is $1,689/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $94,274/year. Median home value is $430,900.
Is Fairhope, Alabama safe?⌄
Fairhope's violent crime rate was 141 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1243 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fairhope, Alabama?⌄
Fairhope has an unemployment rate of 2.5%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fairhope, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Fairhope is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,689/month and median household income is $94,274/year. The median home value is $430,900. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fairhope, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Fairhope is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from