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Living in
Fairland.
Fairland is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Fairland
This is a solidly middle-class, diverse urban neighborhood where you're living in the DC metro area rather than a distinct small town—it's unincorporated and recognized primarily as part of Silver Spring. The median household income of about $99,000 reflects a stable, educated population; 45% hold college degrees and the job market is tight with just 3.7% unemployment. That said, you're paying for proximity to the DC region: homes run around $477,000 and rent averages $1,894 monthly, which tracks with the broader DC cost of living.
Fairland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Foreign-Born
39.7%
Broadband Internet
96.2%
of households
Population Growth
+3.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics39.7% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in Fairland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fairland, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (10.8%), and 14.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
13.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.1%
of households
Married Couples
42.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 11% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Fairland
In Fairland, rent runs 11% above the MD average, and home values are 14% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,039
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Fairland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Montgomery County, which includes Fairland, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Fairland: Montgomery County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Montgomery County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fairland is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fairland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute35 min avg
How Fairland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fairland, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 40% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Montgomery County Police Department, which covers Fairland, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
167.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,571.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Montgomery County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Montgomery County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Montgomery County, which includes Fairland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Winter Weather | $1.4M |
| 2024 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.7M |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12.9M |
| 2022 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.6M |
| 2021 | 48 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.8M |
| 2020 | 53 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2019 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 48 | Flood | $100 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Fairland is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Fairland, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
61
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Fairland is about 2% of Montgomery County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fairland has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.1"
Annual Snowfall
15.8"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
86
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.73" |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 4.20" |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 3.80" |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 4.41" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.38" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.17" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 4.70" |
| Oct | 69°F | 50°F | 4.41" |
| Nov | 57°F | 39°F | 3.52" |
| Dec | 47°F | 31°F | 3.93" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fairland
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fairland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.9 mi away · Silver Spring
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Olney
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Ctr, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Lanham
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fairland
Fairland's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 46.4% 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
46.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fairland (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland Global Campus
12.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 49,664 students · in-state tuition $8,280 · 32% graduate · median earnings $68,110 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
6.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,182 students · in-state tuition $70,170 · 86% graduate · median earnings $96,691 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,108 students · in-state tuition $38,936 · 69% graduate · median earnings $69,682 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Global Region
12.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 9,376 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (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: Baltimore-Washington Parkway, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fairland
Fairland has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Baltimore-Washington Parkway (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
7 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
7 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
9 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
10 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
11 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
12 mi awayCarter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayCities Near Fairland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fairland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fairland FAQ
Is Fairland, Maryland affordable?⌄
Fairland's median rent is $1,894/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $98,800/year. Median home value is $477,300.
Is Fairland, Maryland safe?⌄
Fairland is policed by the Montgomery County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 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 1571 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fairland, Maryland?⌄
Montgomery County, which includes Fairland, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fairland, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Fairland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,894/month and median household income is $98,800/year. The median home value is $477,300. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fairland, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Fairland is 35 minutes, which is longer than 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