The Town FilesFairmont, West Virginia
City in Marion County · population 18,416 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,800
- Household income
- $63,032
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 34.9
Fairmont is a city of 18,416 people in Marion County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $163,800, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more walkable than 96% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 94% of West Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 93% of West Virginia towns.
How Fairmont ranks
Percentile among West 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 West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairmont is worth $163,800, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $63,032, which is more affordable than 47% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairmont | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,800 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $916 | $811 |
| Median household income | $63,032 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Fairmont
| People | Fairmont | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Fairmont
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 8, 2014 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 1975.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4884: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| August 18, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4331: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 17,617 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,020 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Fairmont itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Fairmont
9 public schools with 4,185 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Senior High School | 9-12 | 779 | 16.9 |
| East Fairmont Middle School | 5-8 | 712 | 14.8 |
| East Fairmont High School | 9-12 | 700 | 15.2 |
| West Fairmont Middle School | 5-8 | 626 | 13.9 |
| Watson Elementary School | PK-4 | 376 | 13.9 |
| East Dale Elementary School | PK-4 | 362 | 13.9 |
| East Park Elementary School | PK-4 | 318 | 13.8 |
| Jayenne Elementary School | PK-4 | 312 | 14.2 |
| Barnes Learning Center (Alc) | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Fairmont
- Pleasant Valley, WV1.7 mi · 3,498 people · home $213,600
- Grafton, WV11.8 mi · 4,722 people · home $74,600
- Bridgeport, WV13.0 mi · 9,336 people · home $291,600
- Westover, WV13.8 mi · 3,955 people · home $178,400
- Morgantown, WV15.5 mi · 30,347 people · home $259,400
- Brookhaven, WV16.8 mi · 5,707 people · home $261,000
- Clarksburg, WV18.2 mi · 16,061 people · home $129,900
- Cheat Lake, WV20.6 mi · 9,930 people · home $367,600
Fairmont questions
Is Fairmont, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairmont scores better for retirees than 14% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 6%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Fairmont?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairmont is valued at $163,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,032, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairmont?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26.4 inches of snow.
Does Fairmont get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairmont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 8, 2014. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)