Fairfield is a small town of 759 in Montana, with a median household income of $64,922
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fairfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), 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: 92.1
Fairfield's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fairfield costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fairfield, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$179,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$888
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,922
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fairfield's violent crime rate is 178.9 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
178.9 /100k
Property Crime
423.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fairfield is served primarily by Fairfield Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fairfield, MT
National Avg
School District
Fairfield Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fairfield sees average highs of 35.7°F in January
and 79.7°F in July,
with 12.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Fairfield's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fairfield roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $179,300 and median rent is $888/month.
Fairfield's violent crime rate is 178.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 423.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fairfield are operated by Fairfield Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fairfield, MT has a population of 759, a median household income of $64,922, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Fairfield averages 35.7°F in January and 79.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.4 inches
with about 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fairfield, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59436.
The population of Fairfield, Montana is 759 with a median age of 30.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fairfield: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $179,300, median household income $64,922, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
