City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Fairfax, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fairfax - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,037
Residents
$41,328
Median income
$54,400
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Fairfax - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fairfax places in the 9th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fairfax, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,037 residents in Fairfax, a small town within South Carolina. Median household income here is $41,328 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.5%. Typical homes in Fairfax are valued around $54,400, and the median resident age is 43.3 years. Educational attainment runs 8.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity).

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $902 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 35.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,037 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$41,328 /yr

Poverty 15.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Fairfax compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fairfax stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fairfax against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fairfax near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fairfax ranks #349 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fairfax only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#283 of 403
30th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#349 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#391 of 404
3rd percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#194 of 439
56th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#371 of 441
15th percentile in South Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fairfax's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$54,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fairfax $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fairfax, SC Fairfax, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fairfax, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fairfax, SC median $41,328/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fairfax, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fairfax, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,037
Median Income
$41,328
Median Home Value
$54,400
Median Age
43.3
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Labor force participation
47.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.5%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,300 residents1,350 residents1,400 residents1,450 residents1,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,485 residents 1,352 residents ▼ -9.0%
Fairfax's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 4

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.2%
Carpool
13.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.0%
Other
1.0%

Based on 838 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fairfax sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$902/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
35.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Cowpens
2,031 people
Gaston
2,026 people
Arial
2,024 people
Shell Point
2,005 people
Seabrook Island
2,107 people
Mayo
1,963 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfax's 2,037 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Charlestown, MD
2,037 people
Brownlee Park, MI
2,037 people
Bellville, OH
2,037 people
Poplar-Cotton Center, CA
2,038 people
Pine Air, FL
2,036 people
Southport, IN
2,036 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfax's $41,328 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Raoul, GA
$41,328 median income
Nokomis, FL
$41,333 median income
Gordon, GA
$41,333 median income
Lake Arthur, LA
$41,333 median income
Kilmichael, MS
$41,333 median income
Cheboygan, MI
$41,338 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fairfax, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fairfax, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 18.4% 71.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.7% White 18.4% Black or African American 71.9% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.0% Two or more races 2.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fairfax compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fairfax (this city) 2,037 $41,328
Cowpens 2,031 $37,168
Gaston 2,026 $59,500
Arial 2,024 $50,132
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fairfax, SC?

What is the population of Fairfax, SC? +

Fairfax, SC counts 2,037 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fairfax, SC? +

In Fairfax, the typical household earns $41,328 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fairfax? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fairfax; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fairfax, SC? +

Fairfax's median home value sits at $54,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.