The Town FilesFairplay, Maryland
Community in Washington County · population 537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,800
- Household income
- $120,652
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.7
Fairplay is a community of 537 people in Washington County, Maryland. The median home is worth $296,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Maryland towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 95% of Maryland towns.
How Fairplay 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 Fairplay is worth $296,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $120,652, which is more affordable than 95% of Maryland towns. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairplay | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,800 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | — | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $120,652 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairplay
| People | Fairplay | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.4% | 94.3% |
Weather in Fairplay
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairplay since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4374: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 64,206 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,252 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Fairplay itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Fairplay
- St. James, MD2.6 mi · 4,757 people · home $409,000
- Keedysville, MD4.3 mi · 1,213 people · home $415,300
- Boonsboro, MD5.1 mi · 3,799 people · home $352,400
- Funkstown, MD5.4 mi · 852 people · home $277,800
- Sharpsburg, MD5.4 mi · 560 people · home $304,100
- Halfway, MD5.7 mi · 11,896 people · home $253,300
- Williamsport, MD5.7 mi · 2,083 people · home $227,900
- Mount Lena, MD6.7 mi · 547 people · home $287,500
Fairplay questions
Is Fairplay, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairplay scores better for retirees than 50% of Maryland towns and quieter than 64%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Fairplay?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairplay is valued at $296,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,652, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fairplay?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Fairplay get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairplay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. 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)