Population 7,419 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Fair Plain
Household size in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.21 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Fair Plain are small: just 2.18 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Only 30 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.3 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.3, Fair Plain is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.0, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Fair Plain (14.0%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Fair Plain has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Michigan cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fair Plain
Renters in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Fair Plain is about as common as it is nationally: 32.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Michigan overall (26.8%). Among homeowners, 27.8% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.2 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Fair Plain than nationally: 6.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Fair Plain is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Fair Plain has older homes than at least four in five Michigan cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $591 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $608 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $831 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,005 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$414 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fair Plain costs $1,005 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $414 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 40.3% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fair Plain
Bachelor's degrees in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Fair Plain have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.2% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.3% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Fair Plain have finished high school as nationally: 90.7%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.5 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fair Plain
| Period | Fair Plain | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Fair Plain: 17.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Michigan city with 5,000+ people has higher unemployment. Unemployment has risen 7.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fair Plain compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Plain | 2.18 | 44.3 | 14.0% | 32.7% | 6.1% | 1962 | $1,005 | 21.1% | 90.7% | 17.3% |
| St. Joseph | 2.32 | 44.6 | 3.6% | 23.8% | 8.5% | 1970 | $1,424 | 50.1% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| Benton Harbor | 2.48 | 37.0 | 33.4% | 45.8% | 12.1% | 1963 | $909 | 16.0% | 84.6% | 13.3% |
| Benton Heights | 2.39 | 32.1 | 20.6% | 55.5% | 8.7% | 1958 | $707 | 14.0% | 80.7% | 8.5% |
| Shoreham | 2.06 | 53.0 | 3.1% | 33.6% | 24.7% | 1977 | $1,013 | 54.3% | 99.4% | 0.9% |
| Pearl Grange | 1.78 | 57.2 | 3.6% | 12.6% | 13.7% | 1960 | $778 | 14.4% | 97.2% | 8.8% |
| Sodus | 2.42 | 45.7 | 2.7% | 12.6% | 4.9% | 1971 | $989 | 24.2% | 94.0% | 4.9% |
| Stevensville | 2.56 | 44.7 | 6.7% | 20.1% | 9.5% | 1978 | $1,422 | 47.1% | 97.7% | 5.9% |
| Twelve Corners | 2.06 | 54.5 | 12.3% | 23.7% | 3.8% | 1970 | $470 | 10.6% | 87.5% | 4.5% |
| Buckhorn | 2.82 | 44.2 | 4.2% | 3.2% | 1.9% | 1993 | $1,721 | 56.1% | 98.2% | 1.3% |
| Shanghai Corners | 2.34 | 53.8 | 2.4% | 4.6% | 7.9% | 1960 | $879 | 19.6% | 92.5% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Worley, NC · Armonk, NY · Arnaudville, LA · Springs, NY · St. Augustine Beach, FL · Spencer, IN · Wolfforth, TX · Sunnyvale, TX · Woodbury, TN · Atkinson, NH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fair Plain. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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