According to the 2001 Census, the parish of Terling had a population of 774 and the parish of Fairstead a population of 206.

The 2011 Braintree District Council Rural Services Survey shows that the key services in the parishes are:

Terling:

<>   1 Hall
<>   0 Public House
<>   1 Primary School
<>   1  Post Office
<>   1  Grocery Store
<>   1  Doctors Surgery
<>   0 Cash Point

Fairstead:

<>   0 Hall
<>   1 Public House
<>   0 Primary School
<>   0  Post Office
<>   0  Grocery Store
<>   0  Doctors Surgery
<>   0 Cash Point