Market comparison · September 23, 2026
Daphne vs Fairhope, AL: Which Housing Market Is Better Right Now?
Daphne is the more affordable, faster-moving of the two. Over the last six months, Daphne’s median sale was $363,277 in a median of 37 days; Fairhope’s median sale was $515,000 in 53 days — about $151,700 more and two weeks slower. If budget and speed matter most, Daphne wins. If you’re set on Fairhope specifically, expect to pay for it and wait a little longer to close.
The numbers, side by side
| Measure | Daphne | Fairhope |
|---|---|---|
| Median sold price | $363,277 | $515,000 |
| Average sold price | $399,106 | $639,327 |
| Median days on market (sold) | 37 | 53 |
| Sold, last 6 months | 509 | 477 |
| Active listings | 270 | 350 |
| Pending | 64 | 38 |
| Pending ratio | 24% | 11% |
| Median list price (active) | $350,000 | $672,250 |
| Months of supply | 3.2 | 4.4 |
What actually separates them
The price gap widens the higher up you look. On the median, Fairhope runs about 42% above Daphne. On the average, it runs 60% above — a sign Fairhope’s high end is doing real work pulling that number up, likely waterfront and larger executive homes that Daphne simply doesn’t have as many of. The median list price on Fairhope’s active inventory, $672,250, is nearly double Daphne’s $350,000, which says the gap isn’t closing anytime soon — what’s coming onto the market next looks the same way.
Pending ratio tells the demand story better than price does. Daphne has 24% of its active listings under contract right now; Fairhope has 11%. That’s a real difference in how fast buyers are committing, not just how much they’re paying, and it lines up with Daphne’s tighter 3.2 months of supply against Fairhope’s 4.4.
If you’re buying
Daphne gives you a lower entry point, a faster-moving market, and less competition from other buyers relative to what’s listed. Fairhope costs more at every level — median, average, and what’s actively for sale — so budget for that going in rather than being surprised by it once you start touring.
If you’re selling
Daphne’s 24% pending ratio means a real share of buyers are actively converting into contracts right now — this is a market with momentum. Fairhope’s slower 11% and heavier supply (4.4 months) means more patience and more careful pricing against the competition, especially given how far its average price sits above its median.
Common questions
Is Daphne or Fairhope cheaper? Daphne, by a wide margin. Its median sale was $363,277 over the last six months against Fairhope’s $515,000 — about $151,700 less.
Which sells faster, Daphne or Fairhope? Daphne, by about two weeks — a 37-day median against Fairhope’s 53.
Is Fairhope a more expensive market than Daphne overall, not just on typical sales? Yes, and more so at the top end. Fairhope’s average sale ($639,327) runs 60% above Daphne’s ($399,106), a wider gap than the 42% difference on the median — a sign Fairhope has meaningfully more high-end inventory pulling its average up.
Data: AreaPro, 6-month sold period, all property types (single-family, townhome, condo), both areas pulled the same day for a direct comparison. Pulled September 5, 2026.
Tyler Darden — REALTOR®, Military Relocation Professional · Real Broker, LLC · Licensed in Florida (SL3662859) and Alabama (146317)
Related: Daphne Housing Market — Fall 2026 · Fairhope Housing Market — Fall 2026