Fairmont, WV Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Fairmont, WV: What You Need to Know

Fairmont is located in northern West Virginia, a region known for its coal mines. The city itself is famous for a delicious delicacy: pepperoni roll.

What is Fairmont, WV Known For?

Pepperoni roll may sound Italian, but it was invented in Fairmont. Italian immigrants who worked the coal mines commonly ate a stick of salami and a piece of bread for lunch. Giuseppe Argiro, an immigrant from Calabria, Italy, was among the workers in a Clarksburg-area coal mine. When he opened the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, he created a country roll dough stuffed with pepperoni – a simple, filling, and easy-to-pack lunch for coal miners. The bakery, still going strong today, first introduced pepperoni roll in 1927. 

Things to Do in Fairmont, WV

Prickett’s Fort State Park, located just outside of Fairmont, commemorates frontier life in the region. The 188-acre park is a reconstruction of the original fort, where European settlers took refuge in the late 18th century. The fort includes a storehouse, meeting house, blockhouses, and small cabins. The Marion County Historical Society and Museum is located in a 1912 building that used to house the sheriff’s office. Each room in the museum features furnishing and artifacts of a particular American era with an emphasis on West Virginia's history.

Schools and Higher Education

Fairmont State University, a public university, offers more than 90 fields of study. Its 120-acre main campus serves 3,947 students. There are 77 other universities within 100 miles of the city. Fairmont’s 15 public schools (5,603 students) boast an average math proficiency score of 45%, higher than the West Virginia public school average of 37%, and a reading proficiency score of 49% compared with the 45% statewide average. 

What is the Cost of Living in Fairmont, WV?

Anybody in search of a laid-back and affordable country lifestyle should check out Fairmont (population: 18,388). The city’s cost of living rate and food costs are 6.1% and 43.4% lower than the national average respectively. Likewise, housing cost is 44.5% lower than the national average with median gross rent at $754. West Virginians pay 3% to 6.5% in income tax and 6% in statewide sales tax. Some cities charge an extra sales tax of up to 1%.

The Best Neighborhoods in Fairmont, WV

Fairmont, the seat of Marion County, has good schools, excellent amenities, and friendly folks. Whatever Fairmont lacks in entertainment, you’ll be able to find in Morgantown, 19 miles away. The schools in nearby Pleasant Valley and White Hall have higher rankings than those in Fairmont.