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CITY

Fairmont

West Virginia · 18,035 residents (2025 est.) · 8.602 sq mi
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The short version

Fairmont has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,032. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $163,800. At a median age of 34.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,221
−5%since 2000
from 19,097 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,118 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 2,220 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.9
−11%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,035 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K19K19K20K20K1990201020202024Fairmont
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,032
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,306
+114%since 2000
from $16,062 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.4%
+23.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
−7%since 2010
from 0.454 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing1.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$163,800
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$916
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.4% in 2000
36.9% rent
Vacancy rate
11.0%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.1%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.9%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+8%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
72
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fairmont on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(17,090)
Black7.2%(1,381)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(157)
Asian0.6%(116)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.4%(3,895)
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.9%(15,287)
Black6%(1,099)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(446)
Asian1%(177)
Other6.7%(1,212)
Diversity Score35.9%(6,545)
Diversity Score
36
+76%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.9%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.1%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+71%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.9%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.2%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
+7.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.5%
−19.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.9%
−76.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.1%
+20.4 ptssince 2017
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fairmont, West Virginia?

Fairmont, West Virginia has about 18,221 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fairmont, West Virginia?

The typical household in Fairmont, West Virginia earns about $63,032 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fairmont, West Virginia expensive?

In Fairmont, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $163,800, and the typical rent is about $916 a month.

How educated are people in Fairmont, West Virginia?

About 32.9% of adults age 25 and over in Fairmont, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fairmont, West Virginia?

About 17.4% of people in Fairmont, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fairmont, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Fairmont, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,989 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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