The Town FilesFairland, Indiana
Town in Shelby County · population 542 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,600
- Household income
- $42,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 43.5
Fairland is a town of 542 people in Shelby County, Indiana. The median home is worth $186,600, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Indiana towns, quieter than 93% of Indiana towns, more upscale than 75% of Indiana towns.
How Fairland ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairland is worth $186,600, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $42,083, which is more affordable than 2% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 89.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairland | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,600 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $883 | $888 |
| Median household income | $42,083 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairland
| People | Fairland | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Fairland
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.6 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1961 about 3.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 18, 2021.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1766: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 18,915 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,974 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fairland itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Fairland
3 public schools with 1,414 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triton Central Elementary School | PK-4 | 510 | 16.5 |
| Triton Central High School | 9-12 | 469 | 16.8 |
| Triton Central Middle School | 5-8 | 435 | 13.2 |
Towns near Fairland
- Shelbyville, IN5.3 mi · 20,067 people · home $174,700
- New Palestine, IN10.1 mi · 2,744 people · home $357,500
- Morristown, IN10.2 mi · 1,205 people · home $162,000
- Whiteland, IN11.5 mi · 4,599 people · home $232,100
- Franklin, IN11.8 mi · 25,313 people · home $231,500
- New Whiteland, IN12.7 mi · 5,550 people · home $211,800
- Greenwood, IN13.0 mi · 63,830 people · home $276,100
- Waldron, IN14.0 mi · 805 people · home $165,900
Fairland questions
Is Fairland, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairland scores better for retirees than 94% of Indiana towns and quieter than 93%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Fairland?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairland is valued at $186,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,083, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairland?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.6 inches of snow.
Does Fairland get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1961. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)