The Town FilesFairmont, Minnesota
City in Martin County · population 10,487 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,900
- Household income
- $53,084
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 46.6
Fairmont is a city of 10,487 people in Martin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $169,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 94% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 90% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 87% of Minnesota towns.
How Fairmont ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairmont is worth $169,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $53,084, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $738 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairmont | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $738 | $991 |
| Median household income | $53,084 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Fairmont
| People | Fairmont | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 13.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Fairmont
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 6.6°F. About 33.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1951 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 6, 1965.
Severe weather in Martin County since 1996
Martin County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Martin County
Martin County had 8,245 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,706 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fairmont itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Fairmont
6 public schools with 1,922 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 974 | 15.7 |
| FAIRMONT JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 844 | 18.3 |
| SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA LEARNING CNTR. | 8-12 | 59 | 11.8 |
| SOUTHERN PLAINS BRIDGES | K-12 | 23 | 5.8 |
| SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP. | PK-K | 17 | 8.5 |
| POSITIVE APPROACH TO LEARNING | K-12 | 5 | 5.0 |
Towns near Fairmont
- Blue Earth, MN18.2 mi · 3,174 people · home $143,600
- St. James, MN24.7 mi · 4,793 people · home $122,100
- Estherville, IA25.1 mi · 5,904 people · home $101,400
- Jackson, MN26.3 mi · 3,323 people · home $128,500
Fairmont questions
Is Fairmont, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairmont scores better for retirees than 60% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 26%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Fairmont?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairmont is valued at $169,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,084, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $738 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairmont?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 6.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.5 inches of precipitation a year and 43.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairmont get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1951. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)