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County

Fairfax County

#4 in Best Counties to Live in Virginia
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • County in Virginia
  • 449 reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A+
  2. Crime & Safety
    B
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A+
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B+
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    C-
  10. Health & Fitness
    A+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    C+
View Full Report Card
Fairfax County is located in Virginia with a population of 1,142,004. Fairfax County is one of the best places to live in Virginia. Living in Fairfax County offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Fairfax County there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Fairfax County and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Fairfax County are highly rated.
Population
1,142,004

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$534,800
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,823
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    32%
  • Own
    68%
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Fairfax County Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    53.5
    282.7
  • Murder
    2.4
    6.1
  • Rape
    14.6
    40.7
  • Robbery
    31.6
    135.5
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    48.6
    500.1
  • Theft
    940.4
    2,042.8
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    29.2
    284
Home Security Options for Fairfax County
Learn More
  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    13%
  • 10-17 years
    10%
  • 18-24 years
    8%
  • 25-34 years
    14%
  • 35-44 years
    15%
  • 45-54 years
    15%
  • 55-64 years
    13%
  • 65+ years
    12%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    30%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    31%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    19%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    13%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    8%
    13%

Working in Fairfax County

Jobs
B+
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$117,515
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Fairfax County
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Fairfax County Reviews

    449 reviews
    All Categories
    The schools are academically sufficient and will prepare your students well for the next academic level or life beyond high school. The teachers are well-trained and have enthusiasm and patience in their fields of work. The communities and streets are generally clean and are well-kept by the generous members of the community. Both local restaurants and franchises are sprinkled around the area, so there's always a place to eat at within a mile of where you are. The biggest grievance most have with the area is the higher standard and cost of living, as the average income is above average given the wealth of job opportunities here. Recommended for those with a stable, well-paying job, but it is an area perfect for any lifestyle.
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    I've been living in Fairfax county- VA for 4 years. This is a great area where you can find a range of places, from restaurants to parks. The neighborhood I live is walking distance from public schools, and from George Mason University. Another good feature about this area is the diversity. I'm an international student, an it is amazing when you can meet people from your own country and all around the globe. This diversity, of course, reflects on the restaurants, bars... It is also an area where you will find many parks, where you can go for hiking, walking, biking or even for an outside yoga. If you love music, there will be always a festival going on. Another important feature to highlight is Fairfax is pretty close to the capital, Washington-DC. The public transportation is also good, safe area. Fairfax is amazing!
    Recently moved to Fairfax and it has been a great experience so far. We were worried about finding a pre-school for our daughter and ended up finding 2-3 schools that we loved! We ended up enrolling her at a school just down the road and she is excelling! The food is great, just wish they had authentic Mexican food