Once a hub of West Virginia’s coal industry, Fairmont has experienced the same decades-long decline as the rest of the state. However, in recent years, low real estate prices and a prime location between more expensive cities have led to its population stabilizing, with many anticipating growth in the future. “I think of Fairmont as a blank slate—there’s so much potential,” says Misty Rohaly, a Realtor with Keystone Realty Group. “We’re seeing a lot of younger families moving in and making a lot of these older houses their own.”
A quaint ranch sits on a raised lot in Fairmont.
A row of older homes in the West End of Fairmont.
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Historic homes in need of renovation
The median price for homes in Fairmont falls in the high $100,000s, well below the national median in the low $400,000s. The West End has a collection of centennial homes in various styles, while Garden Village is known for midcentury designs. New construction is cropping up in South Fairmont, which is closer to the highway. A large number of homes will require some attention from potential buyers. “Our population tends to be older, so their homes often need renovation,” says Rohaly. “By the time they’re ready to sell them, they haven’t updated in a while.”
Though it largely functions as a bedroom community for commuters to Morgantown, Clarksburg and Bridgeport, Fairmont is home to multiple manufacturing companies. The area’s primary hospital is Fairmont Medical Center, which employs over 300 people.
The area’s primary hospital is Fairmont Medical Center with over 300 employees.
The Garden Village section of Fairmont is home to midcentury designs.
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A top ten school district for athletes
Marion County Schools serves the city’s students and receives a B-minus from Niche, which rates it one of the top ten school districts in West Virginia for athletics. The district includes over 20 schools, including Fairmont Senior High School, which boasts several state championships for its football team, including 2023.
Established in 1865, Fairmont State University has an enrollment of over 3,000 students. The university is particularly well known for its National Security program. “They just elected a new president, and he’s got a lot of plans for expansion,” she says. “That school is growing, growing, growing.”
Fairmont State University has over 40 degree programs and some not offered anywhere else in West Virginia.
Fairmont High School has an overall rating of a B+ according to Niche.
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Kayaking on the Tygart River
Fairmont’s Parks and Recreation Department oversees seven public parks and resources, including Morris Park, which features over 100 acres of walking trails, wooded landscapes and sports facilities. Oliver Avenue Park contains the Fairmont Community Garden, with plots available for rental throughout the growing season. Valley Falls State Park has over 1,100 acres of scenic waterfalls, forests and rapids flowing down the Tygart River. “So much centers around the river,” says Rohaly. “People picnic, kayak, innertube—it’s a hub during the summer.”
Morris Park is the home of the annual Christmas Lights Festival.
Valley Falls State Park is just a short drive from Fairmont.
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"The pepperoni roll capital of the world"
A long-time staple for hungry miners, the Country Club Bakery invented the pepperoni roll in Fairmont. As a result, many locals still consider Fairmont the “pepperoni roll capital of the world.” Once the site of the Middletown Mall, the development of Middletown Commons has attracted a wide variety of national brands, restaurants and some mom-and-pop shops. As a result, the southside of the city has become one of its most highly trafficked areas.
The Pepperoni Roll was created in Fairmont at the Country Club Bakery to feed coal miners.
Middletown Commons is home to a wide variety of national brands, restaurants and some mom-and-pop shops.
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Do some putting at the Coal Mining Museum
Local attractions include the Marion County Historical Museum, the Telephone Museum and Coal Country Miniature Golf, which combines an 18-hole course with a coal mining museum. Every Tuesday, the Fairmont Farmers Market opens in Palantine Park, offering local produce, pastries and more.
A local attraction is the Telephone Museum which is open seasonally.
The Marion County Historical Museum is open to the public during to week for tours.
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Right between Morgantown, Clarksburg and Bridgeport
Interstate 79 is one of the main highways in the city and leads directly to Morgantown, some 20 miles northeast. Twenty miles in the opposite direction takes commuters to Clarksburg and Bridgeport. “The infrastructure is better in Fairmont than other places,” says Rohaly. “So traffic isn’t really an issue here unless construction is going on.” Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority provides a bus line that is reachable through several routes or its dial-a-ride service. The North Central West Virginia Airport offers limited flights into the Carolinas and Florida.
Important to know
The FBI states that violent crime in Fairmont is somewhat higher than the rates for both West Virginia and the country at large. City property crime was higher than the state rate but lower than the national.
Fairmont has a continental climate, with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters.
In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed high levels of fracking-related radioactive waste at the site of a closed wastewater plant. That same year, the EPA approved a multimillion-dollar cleanup plan, which has not yet been completed.
Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Kelly
Video By
Chris Freeman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Brian Feldmeier,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Fairmont, WV sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Fairmont, WV over the last 12 months is $285,000, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Your next investment is waiting for you at 309 Walnut Ave! This 6-bed, 3-bath home is ready for someone to bring it back to life. With plenty of square footage and a unit setup, student rentals, or a large single-residential home. Located just 5 minutes from Fairmont State and just 7 minutes to the interstate Cash or renovation loan only. If you’ve been looking for a solid project with real
With approximately 1,186 feet of waterfront along the Tygart River, this unique property offers peaceful riverfront living and endless potential for your future home, getaway, or outdoor retreat. All utilities are already on site, and ran to the 700 sq ft cabin, which is located outside of the flood area, making it a great opportunity to build or create your own riverfront escape. Spend your days
Welcome to modern, low maintenance living in this brand new townhouse development located in an up and coming area. Featuring a stylish contemporary exterior and thoughtfully designed interior, these townhomes offer comfort and convenience. The main level has an open concept kitchen and living space with a half bath and one car garage. The three bedrooms are located upstairs including a spacious
Available now with an estimated completion and closing by the end of October! This brand-new end-unit townhome offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and value. Featuring a spacious layout with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, it is thoughtfully designed for modern living. The open-concept kitchen and living area is perfect for entertaining, complete with quartz countertops and designer cabinetry
Beautiful new construction home in the established Eastview Manor community, the top-selling new home construction community in Fairmont! This prime location offers easy accessibility to both Bridgeport and Morgantown with drivable convenience, which is close to a variety of attractions like restaurants, shopping, and outdoor adventures.
A beautifully maintained 3 bedroom 2 full bath ranch home offering the convenience of single level living and like-new condition throughout. Featuring a spacious and open kitchen/living area and a private back patio, this home is perfect for entertaining and relaxing. Numerous upgrades have been completed since the purchase, adding style and value throughout the home. Located in a quiet
Beautifully and professionally renovated from top to bottom, this move-in-ready home offers a fresh, modern feel throughout. Updates include new LVP flooring, fresh paint, a new roof, new gutters, a brand-new kitchen, and completely renovated bathrooms. The thoughtfully designed kitchen features brand new appliances, new cabinetry, granite countertops, fixtures, and finishes, while the updated
Experience the ease of single-level living with this beautifully upgraded Celina Floor Plan by TJ Custom Homes in Heston Farm. Situated on a spacious double lot, this home offers stunning views of the West Virginia mountains and a thoughtfully designed layout perfect for everyday living and entertaining. The open-concept main level features a spacious kitchen with solid surface countertops,
A romantic, rustic, whimsical, story-book style home! Designed after the Cotswold cottages in England, this home served as an archetype for Fairmont. Built by C.S. Bartlett, and designed by Will Parker Nuzum, this unique home was constructed of local limestone with palm plaster walls. This cozy floor plan includes Built-in bookcases, hidden storage, and a private stone patio that adds to its
Charming 2-bedroom, 1-bath home with huge garage near the beautiful Tygart River and Pebble Beach area in Colfax. This well kept property offers true one level living with level yard and a peaceful country feel just minutes from I-79 and downtown Fairmont. You'll love the spacious 2-car garage with attic access for plenty of additional storage. Newly updated flooring in bedrooms and hallway!
This immaculate, well maintained 4 bedroom, 2 and a half bath home is conveniently located in the heart of Fairmont and is truly move in ready. Featuring new carpet throughout, a spacious bonus room, and a bright sunroom that opens to a freshly painted deck, this home offers plenty of space to make your own. Outside, you'll find a fenced side yard that's perfect for pets or gardening. The newly
Located at Lot 3 Burnt Cabin Road, Fairmont, WV, this 13.545 acre property offers an outstanding opportunity to build your dream home, private retreat, or investment property in one of north-central West Virginia's most convenient locations. Combining the privacy of rural acreage with the convenience of nearby utilities and easy access to Fairmont, this tract is ready for your vision. The
Conveniently located just off the White Hall exit on 1-79, Middletown Flats offers modern living near the newly renovated Middletown Commons. Within walking distance of a variety of restaurants and shops, these 48 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment homes feature upscale finishes, including luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout, gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, and stainless-steel
Property Id: 2727709 Available soon is a two bedroom two bath, standalone home plenty of available parking off street close to the university, but not too close not too far from the interstate Pets considered on a case by case basis with increase rent for pets.
Property Id: 2609283 Available is a three bedroom two bathroom home with a fenced in yard. One car off street parking additional on street parking is typically available. Spacious home close to everything in Fairmont schools universities shopping highways interstate. Some people have made the living room downstairs into a bedroom for additional space washer dryer hook ups unfinished basement
This property at 1531 Fairmont Ave offers 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom within a total of 850 square feet. The living room provides ample space for relaxation and entertainment. The bathroom is equipped with standard fixtures and is easily accessible from both bedrooms. Each bedroom is designed for comfort and can accommodate essential furniture. The property includes washer and dryer hookups for
2 bedroom/1 bathroom MOVE-IN CLEAN apartments available now. $850, garbage included. Tenant pays electric, water and sewerage. NO PETS ALLOWED. NO SMOKING ALLOWED. Stove and refrigerator furnished. Washer/dryer hook-up in your own laundry room. Dedicated off-street parking. Free rental application necessary prior to signing a one-year lease. Security deposit and references required. Government
Experience comfortable hillside living in this beautifully updated 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home overlooking Fairmont State University. ( This rental is one side of a well-maintained duplex )Featuring hardwood floors, ceramic tile, a cozy natural gas fireplace, and an updated kitchen complete with a stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher, this home is move in ready. Enjoy year round comfort
Experience comfortable hillside living in this beautifully updated 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home overlooking Fairmont State University. ( This rental is one side of a well-maintained duplex )Featuring hardwood floors, ceramic tile, a cozy natural gas fireplace, and an updated kitchen complete with a stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher, this home is move in ready. Enjoy year round comfort
Apartment features gas heat and cooking, private entrance, multi car semi off street parking, deck with grill included, security lighting. Located in a quite friendly neighborhood easy access to interstate located centrally between Morgantown and Clarksburg. Close to many shops and convinces walking distance to parks, trails, and river access and entertainment areas. 5min away from Fairmont
This property at 1531 Fairmont Ave offers 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom within a total of 850 square feet. The living room provides ample space for relaxation and entertainment. The bathroom is equipped with standard fixtures and is easily accessible from both bedrooms. Each bedroom is designed for comfort and can accommodate essential furniture. The property includes washer and dryer hookups for
Property Id: 2605669 ** No application fee or any other qualification fees. Available is a three bedroom two bathroom home with the garage, central air conditioning, central heat front and back porches central Fairmont location fenced in backyard Close to churches schools shopping interstate
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