Population 25,026 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fairfax City
Household size in Fairfax City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.69 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Fairfax City average 2.74 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Household size has climbed from 2.55 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only 11 of Virginia's 133 counties have larger 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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.8 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.9 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Fairfax City is 36.8 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 39.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the south.
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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fairfax City: 6.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Fairfax City has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Virginia counties.
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 City
Renters in Fairfax City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.0% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.1% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Fairfax City own their homes; 30.1% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 29.3% have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.4% of homes in Fairfax City are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Only one other Virginia county has a lower vacancy rate.
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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Fairfax City is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest. Fairfax City has older homes than the great majority of Virginia counties.
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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,537 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,727 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,004 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,239 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$702 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fairfax City costs $2,239 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $702 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 City
Bachelor's degrees in Fairfax City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.2% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.4% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.3% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.5% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Fairfax City: 62.5% 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. The share with a degree is up 9.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only six 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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.5% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Fairfax City is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 3.0 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 City
| Period | Fairfax City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fairfax City has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.5 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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 City compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax City | 2.74 | 36.8 | 6.5% | 30.1% | 3.4% | 1970 | $2,239 | 62.5% | 90.3% | 3.2% |
| Fairfax County | 2.85 | 40.1 | 7.6% | 31.4% | 4.6% | 1982 | $2,579 | 64.9% | 93.0% | 4.2% |
| Falls Church City | 2.45 | 40.2 | 6.1% | 47.5% | 5.1% | 1973 | $2,271 | 79.9% | 94.7% | 4.7% |
| Manassas Park City | 3.71 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 33.5% | 6.4% | 1983 | $2,042 | 25.7% | 78.8% | 5.5% |
| Arlington County | 2.22 | 37.2 | 5.4% | 58.7% | 8.8% | 1973 | $2,524 | 76.4% | 94.9% | 3.4% |
| Manassas City | 3.17 | 35.3 | 12.6% | 28.5% | 3.3% | 1985 | $1,893 | 33.7% | 81.2% | 3.9% |
| Alexandria City | 2.16 | 38.9 | 7.8% | 57.9% | 6.5% | 1973 | $2,278 | 64.9% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Prince George's County | 2.84 | 39.7 | 14.8% | 37.7% | 5.8% | 1979 | $2,013 | 36.8% | 86.1% | 6.4% |
| Warren County | 2.71 | 40.7 | 10.1% | 24.1% | 10.7% | 1985 | $1,260 | 25.1% | 88.9% | 4.7% |
| Talbot County | 2.33 | 49.9 | 10.0% | 24.9% | 14.6% | 1982 | $1,411 | 40.0% | 92.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wayne County, MS · Chattooga County, GA · Cheboygan County, MI · Cherokee County, AL · Cherokee County, KS · Cherokee County, NC · Chester County, SC · Chester County, TN · Chickasaw County, MS · Choctaw County, OK
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 City. 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.
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