The Town FilesFairfield, Illinois
City in Wayne County · population 4,883 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,800
- Household income
- $41,989
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 46.4
Fairfield is a city of 4,883 people in Wayne County, Illinois. The median home is worth $88,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 82% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Fairfield ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfield is worth $88,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $41,989, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $585 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $585 | $960 |
| Median household income | $41,989 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Fairfield
| People | Fairfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Fairfield
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 1989.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 4,064 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,917 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Fairfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Fairfield
5 public schools with 1,457 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Comm High School | 9-12 | 453 | 15.6 |
| North Side Elem School | PK-3 | 336 | 16.0 |
| Center Street Elem School | 4-8 | 297 | 13.5 |
| New Hope Elem School | K-8 | 193 | 14.8 |
| Jasper Elem School | K-8 | 178 | 13.7 |
Towns near Fairfield
- Flora, IL20.4 mi · 4,803 people · home $77,300
- McLeansboro, IL22.0 mi · 2,675 people · home $79,500
- Carmi, IL23.1 mi · 4,865 people · home $114,800
- Olney, IL28.6 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- Mount Vernon, IL29.9 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
Fairfield questions
Is Fairfield, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfield scores better for retirees than 37% of Illinois towns and quieter than 34%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Fairfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfield is valued at $88,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,989, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $585 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfield?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.9 inches of snow.
Does Fairfield get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)