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Suburb0
San Francisco

Fairfax

#11 in Best Places to Raise a Family in Marin County
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • Suburb of San Francisco, CA
  • 11 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A+
    2. Crime & Safety
      B
    3. Housing
      C
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      A
    6. Diversity
      B+
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A-
    12. Commute
      B+
    View Full Report Card
    Fairfax is a suburb of San Francisco with a population of 7,616. Fairfax is in Marin County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Fairfax offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Fairfax there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Fairfax and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Fairfax are highly rated.
    About Fairfax...
    Population
    7,616

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $793,900
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,815
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      34%
    • Own
      66%
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    Fairfax 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
      52.5
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      13.1
      40.7
    • Robbery
      13.1
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      275.6
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,181.1
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      65.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    B+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      9%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      4%
    • 25-34 years
      9%
    • 35-44 years
      15%
    • 45-54 years
      16%
    • 55-64 years
      18%
    • 65+ years
      20%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      25%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      37%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      25%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      11%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      3%
      13%

    Working in Fairfax

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $98,092
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Fairfax

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      Fairfax Reviews

      11 reviews
      All Categories
      This funky little town is where I grew up. The movie theater is one of my favorite attractions; it was recently redone and now the seats are very fancy and super comfortable! Great food along the strip: sushi, italian, thai, coffee shops, you name it. If you make a right, there are tons of little shops that are really great for gift buying and mulling around. There are a couple of bars and an active night life. Scoop is also the BEST ice cream ever and you must try it.
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      I grew up in Fairfax! It was a really great place to be a kid. You never had to lock your door, or worry about creepy people bothering you if you stayed out too late. Everyone in town is generally just really chill and kind. People say it's a town straight out of the 60's and I kind of have to agree- I spent a lot of summers hanging out on the baseball field at night and playing in the creek and riding my cruiser bike around with my friends and going to The Scoop for dollar cones of organic ice cream. There's really nowhere else like Fairfax, which can kind of be a goof or bad thing depending on how you look at it. I mean, where else can you not lock your door when you go out? But growing up there really didn't prepare me for what the rest of the world is like. People here call it the "Marin Bubble" and buddy it is REAL.
      A small "hippie" town nestled in the outskirts of San Francisco. Fairfax outlives the reputation of Marin County as a rich snobby area and makes visitors feel welcomed. Downtown Fairfax is the highlight of the town with many small, independently owned stores and restaurants. Fairfax is also the birthplace of mountain biking, so it is highly recommended you go out on the many trails and open spaces available throughout the town, either by foot or bike.