Fairmont, WV

Census place 5426452 · pop 18,221

D57/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in WV
📍 West Virginia ranks #17 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster31/100 · top 4%
🚽 Mental22.7% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.60% property · US 0.99%6.59% sales · US 7.00%up to 4.82% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health22.7%1

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

22.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult obesity42.8%8

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

42.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking18.3%12

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Population growth (5yr)-1.3%22

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity30.4%23

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate17.4%25

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

17.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$63,03233

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$63,032 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Homeownership63.1%48

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

63.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Bachelor's degree or higher32.9%56

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

32.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Commute time23 min57

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Income inequality0.4261

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access93.1%63

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

93.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Uninsured adults8.3%63

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Housing cost$163,80081

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$163,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Property-tax burden0.60%83

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,200/mo88

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,200/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Air quality (AQI)County-level33 AQI91

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

33 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level31/10096

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

31/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Fairmont: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Fairmont, WV a good place to live?
By the numbers, Fairmont scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is poor mental health. West Virginia overall ranks #17 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Fairmont, WV expensive to live in?
Fairmont has a median home value of $163,800 and typical rent around $1,200/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Fairmont, WV?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (22.7%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Fairmont, WV best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (31/100) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.