What are the schools like in Fairmont, MN?

Fairmont is served primarily by SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP.. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6.3:1.

What is the median household income in Fairmont?

The median household income in Fairmont, MN is $56,744 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Fairmont, MN?

Fairmont has an average high temperature of 23.9°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.7 inches.

Fairmont, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fairmont, MN affordable or expensive?

Fairmont's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fairmont is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,700 and the median rent is $748 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fairmont, MN?

Fairmont has a violent crime rate of 294.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1395.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fairmont, MN a Good Place to Live?

Fairmont is a small city of 10,411 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $56,744 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Fairmont 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 Fairmont is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fairmont 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: 93.4

Fairmont's overall cost of living index is 93.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fairmont costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fairmont, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$748	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,744	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Fairmont's violent crime rate is 294.9 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

294.9 /100k

Property Crime

1395.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fairmont is served primarily by SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP.. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fairmont, MN	National Avg
School District	SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP.	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	6.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fairmont sees average highs of 23.9°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 33.5 inches of annual precipitation and 39.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fairmont, MN
Average High — January	23.9°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	33.5"
Annual Snowfall	39.7"

Demographics

Metric	Fairmont, MN	National Avg
Population	10,411	—
Median Age	46.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	22.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Northrop, MN 6 mi Granada, MN 7 mi Welcome, MN 7 mi Ceylon, MN 11 mi Truman, MN 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Fairmont

Fairmont, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56031

Fairmont vs Other Cities

Fairmont, MN vs Northrop, MN Fairmont, MN vs Granada, MN Fairmont, MN vs Welcome, MN Fairmont, MN vs Ceylon, MN Fairmont, MN vs Truman, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairmont, MN affordable or expensive?

Fairmont's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fairmont roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,700 and median rent is $748/month.

What is the crime rate in Fairmont, MN?

Fairmont's violent crime rate is 294.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1395.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fairmont?

Public schools in Fairmont are operated by SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOP.. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.3:1. 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fairmont, MN a good place to live?

Fairmont, MN has a population of 10,411, a median household income of $56,744, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Fairmont?

Fairmont averages 23.9°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.5 inches with about 39.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fairmont?

Fairmont, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56031.

What is the population of Fairmont?

The population of Fairmont, Minnesota is 10,411 with a median age of 46.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fairmont?

Key numbers for living in Fairmont: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $156,700, median household income $56,744, crime index 73 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fairmont side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.