Cost of Living in Fairfax County, 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 County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Fairfax County ranks #3,131 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Fairfax County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $2,655
The 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates report that the median selected monthly owner cost in Fairfax County was $2,655. This figure is $1,465 higher than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,190. The median gross rent for the county was $2,276 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. Renter households in the county had a median income of $96,555. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.3%, which is 0.3 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 28.6%. Additionally, the median home value in Fairfax County was $732,800, which is $436,992 above the state unweighted county mean of $295,808. These data points provide a snapshot of household housing expenditures for both renters and owners relative to the broader state landscape. 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 County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.3% of renter household income in Fairfax County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,276 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,655. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $91,040 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 County's $2,276 median is 94.5% 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 County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,585
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.7%
of gross income
The median home in Fairfax County may be a stretch
Median home value is $732,800. Estimated monthly cost: $5,850 vs. your max of $3,585.
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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