The Town FilesFairlawn, Virginia
Community in Pulaski County · population 2,419 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,500
- Household income
- $66,918
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 55.1
Fairlawn is a community of 2,419 people in Pulaski County, Virginia. The median home is worth $243,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 90% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 87% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 79% of Virginia towns.
How Fairlawn ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairlawn is worth $243,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $66,918, which is more affordable than 63% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,621 a month. 83.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairlawn | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,621 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $66,918 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Fairlawn
| People | Fairlawn | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Fairlawn
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairlawn since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 31, 2021 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 14,919 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,746 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fairlawn itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Fairlawn
1 public school with 381 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverlawn Elementary | PK-5 | 381 | 14.1 |
Towns near Fairlawn
- Radford, VA1.9 mi · 16,070 people · home $220,700
- Belview, VA2.4 mi · 1,128 people · home —
- Plum Creek, VA2.6 mi · 1,350 people · home —
- Prices Fork, VA5.2 mi · 1,142 people · home $300,000
- Merrimac, VA7.5 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Christiansburg, VA7.7 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Riner, VA7.8 mi · 949 people · home $388,000
- Dublin, VA8.5 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
Fairlawn questions
Is Fairlawn, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairlawn scores better for retirees than 79% of Virginia towns and quieter than 79%. 31.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.1).
How much does a house cost in Fairlawn?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairlawn is valued at $243,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,918, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,621 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairlawn?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairlawn get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairlawn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 31, 2021. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)