The Town FilesFairfax, South Carolina
Town in Allendale County · population 1,505 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $63,000
- Household income
- $40,649
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 50.3
Fairfax is a town of 1,505 people in Allendale County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $63,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 92% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 87% of South Carolina towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina
- #7 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina With Mild Winters
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Carolina
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina
- #31 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Fairfax ranks
Percentile among South 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 South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfax is worth $63,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $40,649, which is more affordable than 98% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $662 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfax | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $63,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $662 | $937 |
| Median household income | $40,649 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Fairfax
| People | Fairfax | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 41.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Fairfax
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 5, 2022 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 25, 2010.
Severe weather in Allendale County since 1996
Allendale County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Allendale County
Allendale County had 2,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,102 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Fairfax itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Fairfax
4 public schools with 932 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale-Fairfax Elementary | PK-5 | 440 | 12.2 |
| Allendale Fairfax High | 9-12 | 294 | 12.3 |
| Allendale-Fairfax Middle | 6-8 | 194 | 12.9 |
| Allendale High | 9-12 | 4 | 4.0 |
Towns near Fairfax
- Allendale, SC5.4 mi · 2,694 people · home $86,500
- Hampton, SC9.7 mi · 2,694 people · home $206,400
- Varnville, SC11.7 mi · 1,669 people · home $115,800
- Estill, SC14.4 mi · 1,821 people · home $94,100
- Barnwell, SC20.9 mi · 4,652 people · home $145,300
- Denmark, SC25.2 mi · 3,186 people · home $63,900
- Bamberg, SC26.4 mi · 3,076 people · home $157,900
- Blackville, SC27.0 mi · 1,923 people · home $80,400
Fairfax questions
Is Fairfax, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfax scores better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 92%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Fairfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfax is valued at $63,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,649, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $662 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfax?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Fairfax get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 5, 2022. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- 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)