Fairplay, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 511, Fairplay's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Fairplay is a small community located in Maryland, within Washington County. The total population is 511. It ranks as the 380th most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fairplay is 41.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 10.8% 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 Fairplay is $120,652. This is 16% higher than the state median of $103,678. It is also 49% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Fairplay. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Fairplay, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $296,800. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $419,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Fairplay is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 93.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fairplay is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (78.7% vs 46.6%). The Black or African American population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 28.9%.

Education

26.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 43.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fairplay, Maryland is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Maryland state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 527 Census-designated places in Maryland. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.