The Town FilesMerrifield, Virginia
Community in Fairfax County · population 20,488 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $660,800
- Household income
- $136,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.6
Merrifield is a community of 20,488 people in Fairfax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $660,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 99% of Virginia towns, better transit than 98% of Virginia towns.
How Merrifield ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Merrifield is worth $660,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $136,373, which is more affordable than 19% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,368 a month. 39.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Merrifield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $660,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,368 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $136,373 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 39.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Merrifield
| People | Merrifield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 45.7% | — |
| Work from home | 34.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Merrifield
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 13 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 Merrifield since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 5, 1979 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 110 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Fairfax County since 1996
Fairfax County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fairfax County
Fairfax County had 636,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $114,100 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Merrifield itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Merrifield
- Dunn Loring, VA1.6 mi · 9,464 people · home $951,400
- Mantua, VA1.7 mi · 7,503 people · home $1,001,200
- Woodburn, VA1.7 mi · 8,797 people · home $764,100
- Vienna, VA2.1 mi · 16,473 people · home $1,008,800
- Idylwood, VA2.3 mi · 17,954 people · home $756,900
- West Falls Church, VA2.8 mi · 30,243 people · home $706,800
- Wakefield, VA3.3 mi · 11,805 people · home $861,600
- Long Branch, VA3.3 mi · 7,890 people · home $842,400
Merrifield questions
Is Merrifield, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Merrifield scores better for retirees than 16% of Virginia towns and quieter than 4%. 8.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Merrifield?
The median owner-occupied home in Merrifield is valued at $660,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,373, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $2,368 a month.
What is the weather like in Merrifield?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Merrifield get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Merrifield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 5, 1979. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)