Fort Fairfield is a small town of 1,566 in Maine, with a median household income of $55,625
and a 13.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Fairfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fort Fairfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Fairfield city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.5
Fort Fairfield's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Fairfield costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Fairfield, ME
National Avg
Median Home Value
$150,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$393
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,625
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fort Fairfield's violent crime rate is 149.6 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
149.6 /100k
Property Crime
388.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fort Fairfield is served primarily by RSU 86/MSAD 20.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fort Fairfield, ME
National Avg
School District
RSU 86/MSAD 20
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Fairfield sees average highs of 20.8°F in January
and 77.1°F in July,
with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 118.2 inches of snow per year.
Fort Fairfield's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Fairfield roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $150,800 and median rent is $393/month.
Fort Fairfield's violent crime rate is 149.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 388.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fort Fairfield are operated by RSU 86/MSAD 20.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.5:1. 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fort Fairfield, ME has a population of 1,566, a median household income of $55,625, and an unemployment rate of 13.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Fort Fairfield averages 20.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches
with about 118.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Fairfield, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04742.
The population of Fort Fairfield, Maine is 1,566 with a median age of 47.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Fairfield: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $150,800, median household income $55,625, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Fairfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
