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Fairplains, NC

Census-designated place in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Population

1,803

Land area

4.2sq mi

People per sq mi

429

ZIP codes

0

Fairplains and its ZIP codes

Full map

Fairplains at a glance

  • Fairplains is 94% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $38,585 a year, 47% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $140,200 (51% below North Carolina) and median rent is $653 a month.

Local data for Fairplains, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Fairplains, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$38,585

Poverty rate

36.3%

Median home value

$140,200

Median rent

$653/mo

Homeownership

61.8%

Bachelor's or higher

13.6%

Median age

43.4

Average commute

24.9 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (366), German Americans (74), Irish Americans (69).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Wilkes County. PPP loans are for Fairplains.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$51,964

18,897 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$52,892

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$488M

FY 2026, $7,392 per person

Wilkes County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Fairplains, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone94.2%
  • Carpooled3.6%
  • Public transit0.5%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home1.6%

Average one-way commute: 24.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Fairplains, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

737

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

26

0.1% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

87° / 27°F

51.7 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Fairplains, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

42.5%

U.S. 33.3% +9.2 pts

Diabetes

17.1%

U.S. 12.1% +5.0 pts

Smoking

21.3%

U.S. 12.8% +8.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

16.6%

U.S. 11.1% +5.5 pts

Cities near Fairplains

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
North WilkesboroTown1.1 mi6.6
MulberryCensus-designated place2.8 mi5.1
HaysCensus-designated place3.6 mi6.2
CricketCensus-designated place3.7 mi3.5
WilkesboroTown4.2 mi6.6
Millers CreekCensus-designated place5.4 mi4.5
Moravian FallsCensus-designated place6.7 mi5.1
RondaTown11 mi1.1
Pleasant HillCensus-designated place14 mi2.6
JonesvilleTown17 mi2.9
ElkinTown17 mi6.8
Love ValleyTown17 mi1
TaylorsvilleTown19 mi2.4
HiddeniteCensus-designated place20 mi1.6
SpartaTown21 mi2.3
Stony PointCensus-designated place23 mi3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Fairplains, NC in?
Fairplains is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Fairplains, NC?
About 1,803 people live in Fairplains, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Fairplains?
Nearby places include North Wilkesboro (1.1 mi), Mulberry (2.8 mi), Hays (3.6 mi), Cricket (3.7 mi), Wilkesboro (4.2 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023