Fairburn, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Fairburn · Fulton County, Georgia
Population 16,609 (est. 2026: ~17,400)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 1.34% annual growth projection

Fairburn, Georgia

Fulton County, Georgia · Population 16,483

Fairburn sits in the southwestern corner of Fulton County, roughly 20 miles from downtown Atlanta along the I-85 corridor. It's a small city by Georgia standards but one of the faster-growing communities in the metro fringe — close enough to Atlanta to draw commuters, far enough out that housing stays comparatively affordable. The city has a distinctly young, family-oriented population and a majority-Black community identity that reflects broader patterns across southwest Fulton. Nearby towns include Union City to the northeast, Palmetto to the south, and Chattahoochee Hills to the west. Fairburn is not a suburb that disappears into the metro blur — it retains its own municipal government, its own schools, and a commercial center that predates Atlanta's sprawl.

People & Demographics

Fairburn's population of 16,469 skews notably young. The median age is 30.9, well below both Fulton County and Georgia statewide figures, which cluster in the mid-to-upper 30s. Children under 18 make up 5,481 residents — roughly a third of the total population. That demographic weight shapes everything from school enrollment demands to park usage to household size.

The racial composition is predominantly Black at 12,400 residents (75% of the population), with 2,489 white residents, 2,044 Hispanic or Latino residents, and 81 Asian residents. Fulton County overall is more racially mixed, with a much larger white population driven by the northern Fulton suburbs, so Fairburn represents the distinct character of southwest Fulton.

There are 5,697 occupied households with an average household size of 2.87 — above the state average, consistent with the city's family-heavy demographic. Family households number 3,771 out of 5,697 total.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in Fairburn is $67,245, and per capita income is $29,859. Georgia's statewide median household income runs closer to $61,000–$65,000 depending on the reference year, so Fairburn sits slightly above the state midpoint — though the per capita figure reflects the prevalence of larger households with younger dependents.

Of 8,597 residents in the labor force, 448 are counted as unemployed, a rate of about 5.2%. A total of 3,834 residents fall below the poverty line, roughly 23% of the population — a figure that signals real economic stress running beneath the headline income numbers.

Fairburn's economy is largely commuter-based. Most workers leave the city for jobs in the Atlanta metro. Local employment options are more limited, concentrated in retail, healthcare, logistics, and public sector work.

Housing

The housing stock is 5,847 total units, with only 150 vacant — a 2.6% vacancy rate that signals a tight market. Of the 5,697 occupied units, 3,225 are owner-occupied (57%) and 2,472 are renter-occupied (43%).

Median home value is $213,000. That's meaningfully lower than Fulton County overall, where values in northern suburbs and Atlanta proper push county medians significantly higher. For buyers priced out of closer-in Atlanta neighborhoods, Fairburn represents accessible entry to the metro area. Median rent is $1,428 per month, which is substantial relative to local incomes — renters in the lower income brackets face real affordability pressure at that figure.

Schools

Fairburn is served by Fulton County Schools. High school students attend either Langston Hughes High School (grades 9–12, 1,964 students) or Creekside High School (grades 9–12, 1,768 students). Middle schoolers feed into Renaissance Middle School (grades 6–8, 1,166 students) or Bear Creek Middle School (grades 6–8, 1,108 students).

Elementary schools include E. C. West Elementary (853 students), Renaissance ES (601 students), and Campbell Elementary (568 students). Chattahoochee Hills Charter School serves grades K–8 with 529 students. Global Impact Academy operates as a high school serving grades 9–11 with 430 students.

Combined, these schools serve thousands of students — the enrollment figures reflect a young, growing community that places significant demand on educational infrastructure.

Getting Around

Fairburn is car-dependent. Of 8,055 total workers, 5,617 drive alone to work. Another 616 carpool. Only 216 use public transit, and 64 walk to work. A notable 1,444 residents work from home, representing about 18% of the working population — a share that reshapes commute patterns post-pandemic.

Aggregate travel time for all workers is 185,245 minutes — averaging roughly 23 minutes per worker each way. That's consistent with a community that commutes into Atlanta or nearby employment centers rather than working locally. The I-85 corridor is the primary artery, and congestion during peak hours is a consistent reality.

Healthcare

No hospitals are located within Fairburn's city limits. The Atlanta metro healthcare network is the practical resource. Major facilities accessible from Fairburn include Grady Memorial Hospital, Piedmont Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Northside Hospital, Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, WellStar North Fulton Medical Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, and Anchor Hospital. All are located in Atlanta or the broader Fulton-DeKalb metro area — most are 20–35 miles from Fairburn depending on traffic.

For local providers, the NPI Registry maintains a searchable directory of licensed healthcare professionals in Fairburn: NPI Registry — Fairburn, GA

Library

The Fairburn/Hobgood-Palmer Branch Library serves the community as part of the Fulton County Library System. Phone: (404) 613-5750.

Parks & Recreation

Three National Park Service sites are accessible within day-trip range. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (visitor center 27.6 miles away) preserves the landscape of an 1864 Civil War campaign and offers hiking trails across the mountain terrain. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Island Ford Visitor Center, 32.6 miles) provides river access, paddling, fishing, and trail corridors along the Chattahoochee north of Atlanta. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (visitor center 18.6 miles) in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood is the closest NPS site, preserving Dr. King's birth home and the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Natural Hazards

Fulton County has a substantial federal disaster history. FEMA declarations tied to the county include:

The pattern is consistent with Georgia's broader risk profile: winter ice storms, remnant tropical systems, and severe weather. The 2014 winter storms were particularly disruptive to the Atlanta metro. The 2024 Helene declarations reflect the storm's inland reach far beyond the coast.

Government & Municipal Code

Fairburn operates under a city government with its municipal code published through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/fairburn

No local building code is recorded in the available data. State and county building standards govern construction activity.

Weather

Current forecast for Fairburn from the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast — Fairburn, GA

Active weather alerts: NWS Alerts — Fairburn, GA

The nearest weather observation station is Fairburn 0.6 NW, approximately 1.0 mile from the city center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)