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Living in
Fairmont.
About
Life in Fairmont
If you're considering a move to Fairmont, you're looking at a stable, affordable mid-sized city in North Central West Virginia where you can actually afford to own a home. With a median home value around $163,800 and median household income at roughly $63,032, the cost of living is genuinely accessible—rent averages $916 a month, which means your paycheck actually stretches. The unemployment rate sits at 4.2%, and while the job market isn't booming, it's steady; federal agencies including NASA's Katherine Johnson IV&V Facility and NOAA's weather research center provide white-collar employment, and Fairmont State University anchors the local economy with over 3,800 students and ongoing institutional investment.
Fairmont at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Foreign-Born
1.5%
Broadband Internet
93.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Fairmont: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fairmont, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (33.6%), and 1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
37.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
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 about average for WV
Rent, home values, and income in Fairmont
Rent and home values here are close to the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$987
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $193,465 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WV
Unemployment in Fairmont
Unemployment in Marion County, which includes Fairmont, is close to the WV average.
Unemployment rate
Fairmont: Marion County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Marion County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Fairmont Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.8 min avg
How Fairmont residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fairmont, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB)
Regional airport · few flights41k passengers boarded in 2025
- 70 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 148 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M 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 20% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fairmont runs 20% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
395
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,196.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fairmont Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes Fairmont, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $119,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Weather | $7,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Winter Weather | $101,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Winter Weather | $65,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Flash Flood | $1,500 |
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
Marion County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, which includes Fairmont, is typically good.
Median AQI
37
Marion County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fairmont has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.8"
Annual Snowfall
25.5"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
109
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
148
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 24°F | 3.81" |
| Feb | 43°F | 26°F | 3.22" |
| Mar | 52°F | 33°F | 4.21" |
| Apr | 65°F | 42°F | 3.90" |
| May | 73°F | 52°F | 5.09" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.91" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 3.85" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 54°F | 36°F | 3.15" |
| Dec | 44°F | 29°F | 3.73" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fairmont
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fairmont's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mon Health Marion
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Whitehall
United Hospital Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.5 mi away · Bridgeport
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fairmont
Fairmont's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Fairmont
Public · 4-year · 2,590 students · in-state tuition $8,708 · 54% graduate · median earnings $49,370 (10 yrs after entry)
Pierpont Community and Technical College
Public · 2-year · 959 students · in-state tuition $5,762 · 36% graduate · median earnings $38,209 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 17,385 students · in-state tuition $10,752 · 63% graduate · median earnings $62,910 (10 yrs after entry)
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown
14.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 673 students · in-state tuition $14,798 · 68% graduate · median earnings $37,336 (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: Friendship Hill National Historic Site, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fairmont
Fairmont has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Friendship Hill National Historic Site (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Friendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayFort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
38 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
78 mi awayJohnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
94 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fairmont
Marion County Public Library
321 Monroe St., 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, West Virginia affordable?⌄
Fairmont's median rent is $916/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,032/year. Median home value is $163,800.
Is Fairmont, West Virginia safe?⌄
Fairmont's violent crime rate was 395 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1196 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fairmont, West Virginia?⌄
Marion County, which includes Fairmont, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fairmont, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Fairmont is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $916/month and median household income is $63,032/year. The median home value is $163,800. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fairmont, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Fairmont is 23 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