What are the schools like in Fairfield, IA?

Fairfield is served primarily by Fairfield Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Fairfield?

The median household income in Fairfield, IA is $44,277 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Fairfield, IA?

Fairfield has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.7 inches.

Fairfield, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fairfield, IA affordable or expensive?

Fairfield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fairfield is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $134,700 and the median rent is $835 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fairfield, IA?

Fairfield has a violent crime rate of 140.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 486.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fairfield, IA a Good Place to Live?

Fairfield is a small town of 9,474 in Iowa, with a median household income of $44,277 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Fairfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fairfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fairfield city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Fairfield's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fairfield costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fairfield, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$134,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$835	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,277	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fairfield's violent crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

140.5 /100k

Property Crime

486.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fairfield is served primarily by Fairfield Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fairfield, IA	National Avg
School District	Fairfield Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fairfield sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation and 21.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fairfield, IA
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	38.4"
Annual Snowfall	21.7"

Demographics

Metric	Fairfield, IA	National Avg
Population	9,474	—
Median Age	43.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	8.7%	6.3%
Under 18	15.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Maharishi Vedic City, IA 4 mi Libertyville, IA 5 mi Birmingham, IA 9 mi Batavia, IA 10 mi Packwood, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Fairfield

Fairfield, IA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

52556 52557

Fairfield vs Other Cities

Fairfield, IA vs Maharishi Vedic City, IA Fairfield, IA vs Libertyville, IA Fairfield, IA vs Birmingham, IA Fairfield, IA vs Batavia, IA Fairfield, IA vs Packwood, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairfield, IA affordable or expensive?

Fairfield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fairfield roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $134,700 and median rent is $835/month.

What is the crime rate in Fairfield, IA?

Fairfield's violent crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 486.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fairfield?

Public schools in Fairfield are operated by Fairfield Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fairfield, IA a good place to live?

Fairfield, IA has a population of 9,474, a median household income of $44,277, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fairfield?

Fairfield averages 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches with about 21.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fairfield?

Fairfield, IA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 52556, 52557.

What is the population of Fairfield?

The population of Fairfield, Iowa is 9,474 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fairfield?

Key numbers for living in Fairfield: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $134,700, median household income $44,277, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fairfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.