Fairhope city, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fairhope city is a small city located in Alabama. The total population is 23,360. It ranks as the 26th most populous out of 589 cities and towns in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fairhope city is 47.1 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.3 years. 14.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fairhope city is $86,509. This is 39% higher than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 38% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $406,500. Housing costs are 108% higher than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fairhope city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 25.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

53.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Fairhope city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 92% higher than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%. Notably, 24.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fairhope city, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 589 Census-designated places in Alabama. For official data, visit data.census.gov.