The Town FilesFairview, Montana
Town in Richland County · population 896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,600
- Household income
- $86,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.1
Fairview is a town of 896 people in Richland County, Montana. The median home is worth $171,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Montana towns, better for a vacation home than 77% of Montana towns, quieter than 75% of Montana towns.
How Fairview ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairview is worth $171,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $86,667, which is more affordable than 94% of Montana towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairview | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,600 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $725 | $893 |
| Median household income | $86,667 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.5% | — |
Who lives in Fairview
| People | Fairview | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.6% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 86.6% |
Weather in Fairview
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 6.5°F. About 15.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.6 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairview since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1975 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 1975.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 8, 2021.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 13, 2021 | Other | DR-4608: Straight-Line Winds |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2014 | Flood | DR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 5,235 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,143 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Fairview itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Fairview
4 public schools with 349 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview School | PK-5 | 122 | 9.4 |
| Fairview High School | 9-12 | 104 | 9.5 |
| EAST FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-8 | 66 | 6.0 |
| Fairview 6-8 | 6-8 | 57 | 19.0 |
Towns near Fairview
- Sidney, MT10.9 mi · 6,346 people · home $236,900
- Culbertson, MT29.5 mi · 753 people · home $217,200
- Williston, ND29.8 mi · 29,160 people · home $286,200
Fairview questions
Is Fairview, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairview scores better for retirees than 23% of Montana towns and quieter than 75%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Fairview?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairview is valued at $171,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,667, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairview?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 6.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.6 inches of snow.
Does Fairview get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairview since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1975. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)