Town · South Carolina
Fairfax, South Carolina
Fairfax, town, in Allendale County, South Carolina. Fairfax had 1,352 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 9.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,505 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,935 (±344). GEOID 4524370.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,352
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,505 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,935 ±344
Median household income
$40,649
±$6,886 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$63,000
±$10,241 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$662
±$259 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Fairfax and what county is it in?
Fairfax is a town in Allendale County, South Carolina. It covers 3.3 square miles of land, 454 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Fairfax, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,352 people lived in Fairfax on July 1, 2025, down 9.5% since 2020, while South Carolina grew 8.8%. The 2020 Census counted 1,505 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,935 (±344).
| Measure | Fairfax | Allendale County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,935 ±344 | 7,661 | no clear change |
| Households | 895 ±180 | 3,238 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.10 ±0.24 | 2.08 | −0.59 |
| Housing units | 1,000 ±180 | 4,050 | no clear change |
Fairfax's population since 2000
From 3,206 in 2000 to 1,352 in 2025: down 57.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Fairfax as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Fairfax?
The median resident of Fairfax is 50.3 years old; 14.8% are under 18 and 28.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 76.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 21.1%.
| Measure | Fairfax | Allendale County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 ±15.4 | 44.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.8% ±5.0 pts | 18.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.6% ±7.8 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Male | 52.2% ±5.4 pts | 54.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.3% ±1.5 pts | 7.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 21.1% ±7.6 pts | 22.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 76.0% ±8.3 pts | 66.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±1.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.3% ±2.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5% ±4.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| With a disability | 19.1% ±5.9 pts | 24.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.9% ±7.7 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.5% ±6.9 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.7% ±4.0 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.7% ±3.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.5% ±5.9 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.5% ±5.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Fairfax earn?
Half of Fairfax's 895 households earn less than $40,649 a year (±$6,886), against $32,328 in Allendale County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $39,183 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Fairfax | Allendale County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,649 ±$6,886 | $32,328 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $49,623 ±$12,425 | $58,513 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,941 ±$5,429 | $25,038 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.8% ±10.1 pts | 28.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.4% ±18.6 pts | 27.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 32.7% ±11.0 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 79.9% ±9.3 pts | 78.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.6% ±9.4 pts | 73.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Fairfax?
Owners occupy 50.8% of Fairfax's occupied homes and renters 49.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $63,000 by its owner (±$10,241). The median renter pays $662 a month including utilities, and 24.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Fairfax | Allendale County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $63,000 ±$10,241 | $76,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $662 ±$259 | $662 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.7% ±13.0 pts | 35.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $950 ±$565 | $1,169 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.8% ±10.6 pts | 61.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.2% ±10.6 pts | 38.3% | – |
| Housing units | 1,000 ±180 | 4,050 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.4% ±7.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.5% ±9.5 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.3% ±7.6 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.1% ±2.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.6% ±3.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.3% ±7.9 pts | 18.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Fairfax building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Fairfax in 2025 (2 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 7 of 12 months), 1.5 per 1,000 residents against 8.2 across South Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Fairfax work and get to work?
84.1% of Fairfax's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 41.2 minutes.
| Measure | Fairfax | Allendale County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.7% ±7.6 pts | 43.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% ±5.1 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.1% ±8.4 pts | 84.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.5% ±7.8 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±5.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.2% ±3.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 41.2 min ±9.2 | 35.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Fairfax?
No census tract lies mostly in Fairfax; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9705Allendale County | 3,825 | $43,375 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Fairfax) · Census block assignment files
How does Fairfax compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Fairfax is the 9,144th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 138th-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Fairfax ranks 195th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 138th | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 146th | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 223rd | 261 |
| Median household income | 195th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 195th | 259 |
| Median home value | 244th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 219th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 67th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 216th | 226 |
| Median age | 35th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 206th | 258 |
| Travel time to work | 4th | 261 |
Fairfax's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Fairfax with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Fairfax?
21 of the 57 figures for Fairfax on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Fairfax are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Fairfax.