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Living in
Fairmont.
About
Life in Fairmont
Fairmont is a community of 10,348 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $53,084, median rent runs about $738 per month, and median home values are around $168,800. Unemployment is low at 4.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Fairmont at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
85.1%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fairmont: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fairmont, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.2%), and 5.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
26.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.3%
of households
Married Couples
39.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.06
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 42% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Fairmont
In Fairmont, rent runs 42% below the MN average, and home values are 48% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,911
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $172,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Fairmont
Unemployment in Martin County, which includes Fairmont, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Fairmont: Martin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Martin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Fairmont Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.1 min avg
How Fairmont residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fairmont, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 66 mi
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)
Regional airport · few flights8,747 passengers boarded in 2025
- 105 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M 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 37% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fairmont runs 37% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
207.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,256.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fairmont Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
45.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Martin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Martin County, which includes Fairmont, the most common type is winter storm, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Blizzard | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 6 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 10 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Winter Storm | $1.5M |
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
Martin County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Blue Earth County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 33 miles from Fairmont) is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
110
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Blue Earth County, MN (33 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fairmont has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.5"
Annual Snowfall
39.7"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
151
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.85" |
| Feb | 28°F | 10°F | 1.16" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.93" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.53" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 4.58" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 5.02" |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 3.88" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.79" |
| Sep | 75°F | 52°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 60°F | 39°F | 2.32" |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 1.58" |
| Dec | 29°F | 13°F | 1.38" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fairmont
Fairmont has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mayo Clinic Health System - Fairmont
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fairmont
Fairmont's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pipestone National Monument, 96 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fairmont
Fairmont has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pipestone National Monument (96 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fairmont
Fairmont (Central)
110 North Park Street, Fairmont
Cities Near Fairmont
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fairmont?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fairmont FAQ
Is Fairmont, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Fairmont's median rent is $738/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,084/year. Median home value is $169,900.
Is Fairmont, Minnesota safe?⌄
Fairmont's violent crime rate was 208 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1256 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fairmont, Minnesota?⌄
Martin County, which includes Fairmont, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fairmont, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Fairmont is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $738/month and median household income is $53,084/year. The median home value is $169,900. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fairmont, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Fairmont is 13 minutes, which is shorter 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