Fairhope 76 Excellent
Fairhope Livability #15 ranked city in Alabama#3,577 ranked city in the USARanks better than 87% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Fairhope

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    The crime rate is far lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. As such, it should be considered a very safe place to live when compared to other areas.

  • Employment Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

  • Schools Schools

    The schools category boasts a high score thanks to factors like excellent test scores, impressive graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

What's it like Living in Fairhope?

Located in the state of Alabama, Fairhope is a mid-sized city with a population of 22,887 people. According to the most recent Census, 90% of Fairhope residents are White, 3% Black and 3% Asian. Fairhope is known to be family friendly as more than 70% of the population has already tied the knot. It might also be worth noting that 41% of residents also have children under the age of 18. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Fairhope is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 24 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Fairhope can be a good experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of Alabama, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Finding the best places to live in Fairhope and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, cost of living, health & safety, employment, housing and other important metrics.

Fairhope, AL receives 76 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #11 in Alabama and #3,067 in the USA. Based on this score, Fairhope would be considered a very livable city! If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Fairhope has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B+), education (A-), employment (A+) and housing (A+). The bad news for Fairhope, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Fairhope has a violent crime rate of 109 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

Parents and families often rely on school test scores when making decisions about local public schools. Test score data serves as a crucial metric for comparing and assessing various educational institutions. In Fairhope, the average school test scores reached an impressive 69%, significantly higher than the national average. This remarkable performance underscores the commitment of the educational system to equip students with the knowledge and resources necessary for success. It allows your children to receive the support and skills that are essential for thriving academically, making Fairhope an excellent choice for families seeking a high-quality education.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Fairhope can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Fairhope. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Fairhope are affordable. The median home price for Fairhope homes is $590,586, which is 150.7% higher than the Alabama average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Fairhope, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5, which is 38.9% higher than the Alabama average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Fairhope

See all the best places to live around Fairhope

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      Fairhope transportation information

      Statistic Fairhope Alabama National
      Average one way commute24min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.0%85.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.7%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.1%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.9%1.1%2.8%
      Working from home11.5%2.9%4.6%
      Source: The Fairhope, AL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.