RANK #682 / 996 · POP 1,145,354 · VA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.1%
Fairfax County, Virginia, is a large, diverse county that forms part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, bordering Arlington County, Alexandria, and Loudoun County, among others. It's a place that blends suburban living with access to urban amenities, offering a mix of established communities and more modern developments like Tysons and Reston. The county boasts a significant amount of green space, with over 55% tree canopy cover, and numerous parks like Great Falls Park, Burke Lake Park, and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail provide ample opportunities for hiking, biking, boating, and other outdoor activities. Living here means being part of a community that values education and offers a high median household income, nearly double the national average.
The housing market in Fairfax County is notably expensive, with median home values significantly higher than the national average, making it challenging for many buyers. This high cost of living, particularly for housing and childcare, has contributed to some residents moving to more affordable areas. Recent economic developments show both challenges and investments. Fairfax County saw a 5.2% GDP growth year-over-year in 2023 and continues to attract capital investment, especially in artificial intelligence and defense tech startups. For example, Blue Sky Innovators is investing $7 million to expand its operations in Reston, creating 175 new jobs. However, the county is also facing potential economic headwinds due to federal budget cuts, which could lead to significant job losses in both federal and contractor positions, impacting local tax revenues.
Overvalued relative to economy
No data
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 10.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center at Stonecroft Blvd
Starwood Capital Group (SCG Capital Holdings LLC)
|
$167M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Fairfax County has a Boom Town Index score of 32/100, ranking #682 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.1% and a median household income of $145,165, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Fairfax County is $666,900 with median rent at $2,159/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2177, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.1%. Home values changed -1.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.97% of Fairfax County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.