At a Glance
Median Income
$23,197
$32,013 per capita
Median Rent
$873/mo
47.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
340/100K
1,812/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.0%
75.3% high school+
Unemployment
3.3%
40.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.3%
21.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
305 sunny days/yr
How Fairlea Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Fairlea's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Fairlea a Good Place to Live?
D
1.7 / 5.0 — Poor
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Fairlea residents earn a median household income of $23,197 , which is 69% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $32,013. The unemployment rate stands at 3.3% (8% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 40.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,392 business establishments, including 86 restaurants.
Safety & Crime
Fairlea reports 340 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 11% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,812/100K.
Education
14.0% of adults in Fairlea hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(58% below the national average).
75.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Fairlea has an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C).
Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 41.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population1,266
Median Age60.1 yrs
Density339/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans12.8%
Economy
C
Median Income$23,197
Per Capita$32,013
Unemployment3.3%
Poverty40.3%
County GDP$1,454M
Avg Weekly Wage$849
Housing
D
Home Value
Rent$873
Ownership65.7%
Zillow$172,451
Housing Units780
Rent Burden47.4%
Crime
F
Violent340/100K
Property1,812/100K
Health
Obesity40.3%
Diabetes13.1%
Smoking21.2%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death14,045/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days305/yr
Rain41.5 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation2,166 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.0%
High School+75.3%
Graduate+1.2%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 70% / D 28%
Commute22 min
Broadband70.1%
Internet Speed43 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries6
Did You Know?
The median home in Fairlea was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) (41 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.489 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
27.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.