United States › West Virginia › Fairmont CITY
Fairmont West Virginia · 18,035 residents (2025 est.) · 8.60 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 18,221 people, Fairmont is a city in West Virginia. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $163,800. The median age is 34.9, younger than the US median of 38.9. Density works out to 2,118 people per square mile. Renters pay $916 a month at the median.
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 from 19,097 in 2000
18,035 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,118 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 2,210 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
18K 19K 19K 20K 20K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Fairmont Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $63,032
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,062 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.454 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Education & health services 2.9%
Public administration 2.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$163,800
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$916
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 63.4% in 2000
36.9% rent
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.26 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 89.5%(17,090)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(157)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 83.9%(15,287)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(446)
from 26 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data from 20.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 78.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 44.5%(3,440)
Women 15+
Never married 35.1%(2,722)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 63.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 31.9%(346)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.6%(278)
Share of the 1,085 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Fairmont Head to head
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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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