The Town FilesFairhope, Alabama
City in Baldwin County · population 22,477 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $430,900
- Household income
- $94,274
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 48.2
Fairhope is a city of 22,477 people in Baldwin County, Alabama. The median home is worth $430,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 95% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 95% of Alabama towns.
How Fairhope ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairhope is worth $430,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $94,274, which is more affordable than 7% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,689 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairhope | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $430,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,689 | $834 |
| Median household income | $94,274 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Fairhope
| People | Fairhope | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Fairhope
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 69.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairhope since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 9, 2011 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 22, 2023.
Severe weather in Baldwin County since 1996
Baldwin County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Hurricane | EM-3656: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Baldwin County
Baldwin County had 85,118 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Fairhope itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Fairhope
5 public schools with 5,056 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhope High School | 9-12 | 1,642 | 16.6 |
| Fairhope West Elementary | PK-6 | 990 | 16.2 |
| Fairhope East Elementary | K-6 | 851 | 17.0 |
| J Larry Newton School | PK-6 | 846 | 16.6 |
| Fairhope Middle School | 7-8 | 727 | 15.5 |
Towns near Fairhope
- Daphne, AL7.1 mi · 27,462 people · home $323,400
- Robertsdale, AL10.7 mi · 6,708 people · home $229,300
- Spanish Fort, AL14.0 mi · 10,049 people · home $343,900
- Loxley, AL14.0 mi · 3,710 people · home $398,500
- Foley, AL15.2 mi · 20,335 people · home $289,300
- Mobile, AL17.0 mi · 187,041 people · home $193,300
- Theodore, AL18.4 mi · 6,270 people · home $154,900
- Gulf Shores, AL19.9 mi · 15,014 people · home $382,700
Fairhope questions
Is Fairhope, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairhope scores better for retirees than 94% of Alabama towns and quieter than 48%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Fairhope?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairhope is valued at $430,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,274, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,689 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairhope?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 69.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fairhope get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairhope since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 9, 2011. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- 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)