The Town FilesFairmont, North Carolina
Town in Robeson County · population 2,191 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,800
- Household income
- $36,641
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.9
Fairmont is a town of 2,191 people in Robeson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $106,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Fairmont 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 Fairmont is worth $106,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $36,641, which is more affordable than 82% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $603 a month. 46.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairmont | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $603 | $969 |
| Median household income | $36,641 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairmont
| People | Fairmont | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Fairmont
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 23, 1979 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 27, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 17, 1965.
Severe weather in Robeson County since 1996
Robeson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Robeson County
Robeson County had 38,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,957 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Fairmont itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Fairmont
4 public schools with 1,693 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont High | 9-12 | 801 | 15.1 |
| Rosenwald Elementary | PK-4 | 345 | 15.0 |
| Fairgrove Elementary School | PK-5 | 279 | 13.3 |
| Fairmont Middle | 5-8 | 268 | 12.2 |
Towns near Fairmont
- Rowland, NC10.6 mi · 885 people · home $118,000
- Lumberton, NC10.8 mi · 19,025 people · home $152,600
- Lake View, SC11.0 mi · 764 people · home $75,700
- Hamer, SC12.2 mi · 820 people · home $163,000
- Pembroke, NC13.4 mi · 2,823 people · home $129,400
- Fair Bluff, NC13.4 mi · 709 people · home $101,400
- Barker Ten Mile, NC14.8 mi · 937 people · home $163,700
- Newtown, SC15.3 mi · 770 people · home $60,600
Fairmont questions
Is Fairmont, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairmont scores better for retirees than 23% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 48%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Fairmont?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairmont is valued at $106,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,641, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $603 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairmont?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Fairmont get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 23, 1979. 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)