The Town FilesFairfax, California
Town in Marin County · population 7,605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,163,600
- Household income
- $141,653
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 48.7
Fairfax is a town of 7,605 people in Marin County, California. The median home is worth $1,163,600, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of California towns, hipper than 97% of California towns, better for young professionals than 95% of California towns.
How Fairfax ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfax is worth $1,163,600, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 8.2 times the median household income of $141,653, which is more affordable than 23% of California towns. Median rent is $2,367 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfax | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,163,600 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,367 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $141,653 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.2× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Fairfax
| People | Fairfax | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.1% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 38.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 93.3% |
Weather in Fairfax
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950.
Severe weather in Marin County since 1996
Marin County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3428: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Marin County
Marin County had 110,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $93,552 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Fairfax itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Fairfax
3 public schools with 1,049 students, about 19.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Hill Middle | 6-8 | 628 | 18.5 |
| Manor Elementary | K-5 | 230 | 23.0 |
| Ross Valley Charter (charter) | K-5 | 191 | 21.2 |
Towns near Fairfax
- San Anselmo, CA1.4 mi · 12,830 people · home $1,576,700
- Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA3.7 mi · 6,259 people · home $1,445,600
- Kentfield, CA4.1 mi · 6,808 people · home $2,000,001
- San Rafael, CA4.8 mi · 61,271 people · home $1,355,600
- Larkspur, CA4.9 mi · 13,064 people · home $1,996,600
- Santa Venetia, CA5.2 mi · 4,289 people · home $1,006,300
- Corte Madera, CA6.2 mi · 10,222 people · home $1,755,200
- Mill Valley, CA6.3 mi · 14,231 people · home $2,000,001
Fairfax questions
Is Fairfax, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfax scores better for retirees than 90% of California towns and quieter than 57%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Fairfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfax is valued at $1,163,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $141,653, so homes cost about 8.2 times income. Median rent is $2,367 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfax?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fairfax get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Fairfax in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)