Fairfax, Virginia - panoramio
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Photo: Idawriter / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Resized and re-encoded for web

Living in Fairfax City, Virginia

A six-square-mile independent city surrounded by Fairfax County, with a walkable historic downtown at the crossroads of Routes 123 and 29-50, next door to George Mason University.

1.07
Tax per $100
93%
Grad rate
Car-dependent
Walkability
See what you can afford in Fairfax City →
Old-fairfax-city-hall034
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Photo: Slowking4 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Resized and re-encoded for web

Commute & how people work

About 29% of Fairfax City workers work from home and the typical commute runs 28 min.

28 min
Average commute
30%
Commute under 20 min
18%
Commute 45 min or more
29%
Work from home

How long the commute is, share of commuters

Under 10 min8%
10 to 19 min22%
20 to 29 min21%
30 to 44 min31%
45 min or more18%

How people get to work, share of workers

Drive alone53%
Carpool10%
Public transit4%
Walk or bike3%
Work from home29%
Other1%

Check drive times from a specific address →

Compare commutes across Northern Virginia →

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2024). County-wide figures, not a specific address.

Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools reports a 93% on-time graduation rate, with 78% passing Math and 79% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments (VDOE School Quality Profile).

Before you choose an address

Check a specific address for nearby schools, commute, and services →

Compare school signals across Northern Virginia →

Amenities & walkability

Within a few miles you'll find about 0 restaurants & cafes and 0 grocery stores. The town center is car-dependent (0 walkable spots within a mile). Counts from OpenStreetMap.

Local businesses

Use this as a daily-life snapshot: grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and everyday places that help you picture a normal week in Fairfax City. Owner-approved details appear when available.

Grocery & markets

Restaurants

Cafes & coffee

Bakeries

Bars & breweries

Shops & retail

Health & medical

Pharmacies

Gyms & fitness

Personal care

Hotels & lodging

Banks

Hardware & home

Auto services

Churches & faith communities

Other services

Gas stations

Convenience stores

Browse the full Fairfax City directory, search businesses, parks & employers →

Business listings start from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and public local directories; owner-approved updates appear after review. Own or manage one? Claim or add your listing.

Major employers & institutions

The biggest workplaces in and around Fairfax City: the universities, hospitals, plants, and offices that anchor the local economy.

Universities

Hospitals & health systems

Research centers

Government & public sector

Major employers & offices

Business & industrial parks

A starting list of the area's largest workplaces, compiled from public sources and OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

By the numbers

Cost of living

$132,348
Median household income
$722,600
Median home value
$2,245 /mo
Median gross rent
70%
Homes owner-occupied

Who lives here

37
Median age
62%
Adults with a bachelor's or higher

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Risk

7%
In a FEMA flood zone

Source: FEMA NFHL (approx, area-weighted)

Frequently asked questions

What are property taxes like in Fairfax City?

Fairfax City's real-estate tax rate is about $1.07 per $100 of assessed value (roughly 1.07% a year).

How are the schools in Fairfax City?

Fairfax County Public Schools reports a 93% on-time graduation rate, with 78% passing Math and 79% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments.

How long is the commute in Fairfax City?

The average commute for Fairfax City workers is about 28 minutes, and 30% get to work in under 20 minutes. County-wide Census figures, not a specific address.

Can I work remotely from Fairfax City?

About 29% of Fairfax City workers already work from home.

Nearby area guides

Keep exploring Northern Virginia with nearby area guides.

Arlington CountyAlexandria CityFairfax CountyFalls Church CityLoudoun CountyPrince William CountyManassas CityManassas Park City

Moving from out of state?

See your tax and cost-of-living savings if you're moving from out of state:

Old-fairfax-city-hall036
Credit
Photo: Slowking4 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Resized and re-encoded for web
From WashingtonFrom New York City (Manhattan)From Boston

Compare costs in the moving guide →

Sources and freshnessLast rebuilt 2026-09-14 with public records and source notes for Living in Fairfax City.
  • Last rebuilt 2026-09-14 from the latest records synced into this guide.
  • 1 area shows an explicit coming-soon state rather than a guessed price.
  • Property and tax figures come from county/city parcel, sales, and assessor records.
  • School metrics use Virginia Department of Education profiles when available.
  • Amenity and business counts use OpenStreetMap, so hours and listings can change.
  • Jobs, events, news, and business-directory layers are included only after their feeds or curated sources sync.
  • Use these figures as planning estimates, then verify taxes, listings, and school details before making an offer.

Also exploring Southwest Virginia?

This page is focused on Northern Virginia. Open a neighboring guide when your search crosses into another part of the region.

Open NRV guideOpen Roanoke guideOpen Lynchburg guideOpen Charlottesville guideOpen Harrisonburg guideOpen Middle Peninsula guideOpen Winchester guideOpen Bristol guideOpen Wytheville guideOpen SWVA guideOpen Culpeper guideOpen Martinsville guideOpen Southside guideOpen Farmville guideOpen Danville guideOpen Staunton guideOpen Richmond guideOpen Eastern Shore guideOpen Northern Neck guideOpen Alleghany guideOpen Fredericksburg guideOpen Petersburg guideOpen Hampton Roads guide