Cost of Living in Fairfax city, Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Fairfax city Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Fairfax city ranks #3,127 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Fairfax City Median Gross Rent Estimated at $2,245
The median gross rent in Fairfax city was estimated at $2,245 per month according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates. This monthly cost is $1,075 above the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,170. Renter households in the city had an estimated median income of $69,900. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.6%, which is 2.0 percentage points higher than the state's unweighted county mean GRAPI of 28.6%. For home owners, the median selected monthly owner cost was $2,537, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,190. The median value of owner-occupied homes was $722,600, which is $426,792 above the Virginia unweighted county mean of $295,808. These statistics provide a standardized view of the city's housing economy based on federal data. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Fairfax city
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.6% of renter household income in Fairfax city, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,245 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,537. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $89,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Fairfax city's $2,245 median is 91.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Fairfax city
Rent Burden
20.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,088
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.0%
of gross income
The median home in Fairfax city may be a stretch
Median home value is $722,600. Estimated monthly cost: $5,769 vs. your max of $3,088.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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