The Town FilesFairlee, Maryland
Community in Kent County · population 500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $270,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.4
Fairlee is a community of 500 people in Kent County, Maryland. The median home is worth $270,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Maryland towns, quieter than 100% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 92% of Maryland towns.
How Fairlee ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairlee is worth $270,600, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). 35.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairlee | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $270,600 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | — | $1,748 |
| Median household income | — | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 35.6% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairlee
| People | Fairlee | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.4% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 58.9% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 94.3% |
Weather in Fairlee
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.7 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairlee since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 19, 2011 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 12, 2018.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 7,648 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,881 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Fairlee itself the ACS puts it at 37.8%.
Towns near Fairlee
- Chestertown, MD5.0 mi · 5,532 people · home $344,000
- Butlertown, MD5.3 mi · 520 people · home $209,500
- Kingstown, MD6.7 mi · 1,689 people · home $293,000
- Rock Hall, MD7.1 mi · 1,198 people · home $262,000
- Church Hill, MD11.4 mi · 808 people · home $306,500
- Bowleys Quarters, MD13.0 mi · 6,853 people · home $400,100
- Centreville, MD13.9 mi · 4,727 people · home $449,900
- Edgewood, MD15.1 mi · 25,713 people · home $242,200
Fairlee questions
Is Fairlee, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairlee scores better for retirees than 100% of Maryland towns and quieter than 100%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Fairlee?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairlee is valued at $270,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fairlee?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairlee get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairlee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 19, 2011. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)