Population 7,571 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Fairfax: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Fairfax
Household size in Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Fairfax is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Only 54 of the 689 California 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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.6 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.2 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.3 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.3, Fairfax 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 43.7, as it has nationally. Only 66 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fairfax: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Fairfax
Renters in Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.8% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.9% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.7% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Fairfax own their homes; 29.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. More than a third of owners (36.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the northeast; owners are most common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 3.8 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Fairfax: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1950 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Fairfax is a place of older homes: half were built before 1950, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only four have older homes.
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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,607 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,590 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,895 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,937 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,330 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fairfax costs $2,937 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,330 a month from 2006–10, an 83% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 38.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the west.
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 Fairfax
Bachelor's degrees in Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.8% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.3% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.4% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 69.7% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Fairfax: 69.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.9 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 59 have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.3% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Fairfax: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Fairfax
| Period | Fairfax | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Fairfax: 13.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 24 have higher unemployment. Unemployment is up 9.4 points from 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).
Fairfax 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax | 2.32 | 48.3 | 7.2% | 29.7% | 5.8% | 1950 | $2,937 | 69.7% | 98.9% | 13.0% |
| Sleepy Hollow | 2.55 | 55.0 | 11.3% | 16.1% | 6.5% | 1960 | $3,187 | 74.2% | 98.0% | 7.6% |
| San Anselmo | 2.46 | 48.2 | 8.5% | 30.1% | 5.6% | 1954 | $3,050 | 69.7% | 98.0% | 7.5% |
| Woodacre | 2.64 | 54.2 | 4.2% | 11.0% | 8.1% | 1956 | $2,374 | 65.2% | 94.3% | 2.6% |
| Ross | 2.71 | 43.3 | 6.2% | 28.8% | 7.7% | 1954 | $2,875 | 78.3% | 99.3% | 3.7% |
| San Rafael | 2.72 | 45.0 | 8.7% | 42.6% | 5.5% | 1967 | $2,567 | 49.5% | 84.8% | 5.3% |
| Kentfield | 2.43 | 51.9 | 4.8% | 27.2% | 7.7% | 1960 | $3,093 | 78.8% | 99.3% | 5.1% |
| Greenbrae | 2.31 | 49.0 | 4.3% | 46.5% | 13.3% | 1964 | $3,432 | 67.5% | 94.8% | 2.6% |
| San Geronimo | 2.49 | 47.5 | 6.2% | 12.8% | 8.7% | 1968 | $2,316 | 85.0% | 97.7% | 0.3% |
| Larkspur | 2.26 | 49.3 | 9.4% | 48.3% | 7.5% | 1963 | $2,969 | 67.5% | 97.6% | 4.2% |
| Lagunitas-Forest Knolls | 2.12 | 51.7 | 6.2% | 21.4% | 11.2% | 1962 | $2,365 | 68.8% | 97.0% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Aurora, IN · Talent, OR · Ashland, NJ · Aspen, CO · Wise, VA · St. Francis, MN · Bondurant, IA · Summit Park, UT · Atlantic Highlands, NJ · Gray Court, SC
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 Fairfax. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.