The Town FilesFairplain, Michigan
Township in Montcalm County · population 1,802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,000
- Household income
- $56,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 43.2
Fairplain is a township of 1,802 people in Montcalm County, Michigan. The median home is worth $162,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Michigan towns, better transit than 74% of Michigan towns.
How Fairplain 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 Fairplain is worth $162,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $56,406, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,103 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairplain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,103 | $955 |
| Median household income | $56,406 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in Fairplain
| People | Fairplain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Fairplain
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairplain since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Montcalm County since 1996
Montcalm County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Montcalm County
Montcalm County had 16,263 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,244 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Fairplain itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near Fairplain
- Sheridan, MI4.6 mi · 692 people · home $165,700
- Orleans, MI5.5 mi · 2,664 people · home $175,700
- Eureka, MI6.1 mi · 4,211 people · home $236,200
- Bushnell, MI6.2 mi · 1,516 people · home $199,100
- Sidney, MI6.3 mi · 2,538 people · home $188,300
- Greenville, MI6.4 mi · 8,816 people · home $184,200
- Belding, MI6.5 mi · 5,938 people · home $163,800
- Ronald, MI7.7 mi · 1,861 people · home $172,000
Fairplain questions
Is Fairplain, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairplain scores better for retirees than 28% of Michigan towns and quieter than 37%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Fairplain?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairplain is valued at $162,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,406, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,103 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairplain?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 72.9 inches of snow.
Does Fairplain get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairplain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1968. 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)