The Town FilesFairfield, Iowa
City in Jefferson County · population 9,416 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,000
- Household income
- $51,311
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.0
Fairfield is a city of 9,416 people in Jefferson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $156,000, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 100% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 95% of Iowa towns.
How Fairfield ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfield is worth $156,000, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $51,311, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $870 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $870 | $820 |
| Median household income | $51,311 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Fairfield
| People | Fairfield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 25.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fairfield
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1967 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on June 28, 1976.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| January 4, 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1737: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 7,185 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,535 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Fairfield itself the ACS puts it at 11.8%.
Public schools in Fairfield
4 public schools with 1,457 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield High School | 9-12 | 445 | 16.5 |
| Fairfield Middle School | 5-8 | 418 | 14.4 |
| Pence Elementary | 2-4 | 339 | 13.0 |
| Washington Elementary | PK-1 | 255 | 14.2 |
Towns near Fairfield
- Mount Pleasant, IA22.1 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
- Ottumwa, IA23.8 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- Washington, IA24.6 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Bloomfield, IA29.5 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
Fairfield questions
Is Fairfield, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfield scores better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns and quieter than 13%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Fairfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfield is valued at $156,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,311, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $870 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfield?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairfield get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1967. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)