salaryRent is higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 90% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.6 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 70.1% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $100,400 a year. That is $48 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 387 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Fairfax?
Share of households by yearly income. 56.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Fairfax
| Size | Fairfax | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,796 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,163 | $1,509 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Fairfax overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Fairfax, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Fairfax
Life in Fairfax
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fairfax?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,564 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,163,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $116,360 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Fairfax, CA?
Renting in Fairfax costs a median of about $2,510 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Fairfax?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $100,400 a year, or $48 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Fairfax cheap or expensive?
Fairfax is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.7% of the typical household income of $152,773. It ranks 387th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Fairfax?
The median homeowner in Fairfax pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of the median home value.
Is Fairfax more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Fairfax?
The median home value in Fairfax is $1,163,600, about 7.6 times the typical yearly household income.
7,516 people live in Fairfax. Numbers are typical (middle) values.