The Town FilesFair Bluff, North Carolina
Town in Columbus County · population 709 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,400
- Household income
- $31,389
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 45.8
Fair Bluff is a town of 709 people in Columbus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $101,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Fair Bluff ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fair Bluff is worth $101,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $31,389, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 69.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fair Bluff | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $684 | $969 |
| Median household income | $31,389 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.5% | — |
Who lives in Fair Bluff
| People | Fair Bluff | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Fair Bluff
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Bluff since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 10, 1982 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 1, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Columbus County since 1996
Columbus County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Columbus County
Columbus County had 14,466 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,896 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Fair Bluff itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Fair Bluff
- Lake View, SC8.1 mi · 764 people · home $75,700
- Chadbourn, NC11.9 mi · 1,574 people · home $135,400
- Fairmont, NC13.4 mi · 2,191 people · home $106,800
- Tabor City, NC14.2 mi · 3,781 people · home $115,900
- Mullins, SC14.7 mi · 4,026 people · home $95,300
- Brunswick, NC18.2 mi · 973 people · home $82,500
- Whiteville, NC19.0 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
- Newtown, SC19.5 mi · 770 people · home $60,600
Fair Bluff questions
Is Fair Bluff, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fair Bluff scores better for retirees than 87% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 91%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Fair Bluff?
The median owner-occupied home in Fair Bluff is valued at $101,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,389, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Fair Bluff?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Fair Bluff get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Bluff since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 10, 1982. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)