The Town FilesFair Plain, Michigan
Community in Berrien County · population 7,402 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,400
- Household income
- $52,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.9
Fair Plain is a community of 7,402 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $169,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 87% of Michigan towns, better transit than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Fair Plain ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fair Plain is worth $169,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $52,817, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,019 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fair Plain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,019 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,817 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Fair Plain
| People | Fair Plain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Fair Plain
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Plain since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2010 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 2, 1997.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Fair Plain itself the ACS puts it at 18.1%.
Towns near Fair Plain
- St. Joseph, MI1.6 mi · 9,993 people · home $248,900
- St. Joseph, MI2.2 mi · 7,856 people · home $299,000
- Benton Harbor, MI2.2 mi · 9,103 people · home $76,500
- Benton Heights, MI3.4 mi · 3,652 people · home $97,700
- Benton, MI3.7 mi · 14,374 people · home $148,700
- Royalton, MI4.6 mi · 5,141 people · home $356,700
- Lincoln, MI5.3 mi · 14,929 people · home $299,100
- Hagar, MI8.6 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
Fair Plain questions
Is Fair Plain, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fair Plain scores better for retirees than 15% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Fair Plain?
The median owner-occupied home in Fair Plain is valued at $169,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,817, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,019 a month.
What is the weather like in Fair Plain?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 77.7 inches of snow.
Does Fair Plain get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Plain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2010. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)