The Town FilesFairview, North Carolina
Community in Buncombe County · population 2,771 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $439,600
- Household income
- $92,132
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 37.3
Fairview is a community of 2,771 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $439,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 93% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 87% of North Carolina towns.
How Fairview ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairview is worth $439,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $92,132, which is more affordable than 20% of North Carolina towns. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairview | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $439,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $92,132 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairview
| People | Fairview | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Fairview
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fairview since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 8, 2024 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Buncombe County since 1996
Buncombe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Buncombe County
Buncombe County had 136,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,785 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Fairview itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Fairview
1 public school with 627 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Elementary | K-5 | 627 | 15.3 |
Towns near Fairview
- Swannanoa, NC5.5 mi · 5,021 people · home $287,500
- Royal Pines, NC6.4 mi · 4,127 people · home $400,200
- Black Mountain, NC7.7 mi · 8,426 people · home $358,900
- Fletcher, NC8.6 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
- Asheville, NC9.1 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Mountain Home, NC11.9 mi · 3,490 people · home $400,000
- Woodfin, NC13.5 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Hendersonville, NC14.0 mi · 15,137 people · home $317,000
Fairview questions
Is Fairview, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairview scores better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 68%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Fairview?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairview is valued at $439,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,132, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fairview?
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Fairview get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fairview since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 8, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)