The Town FilesFair Oaks, California
Community in Sacramento County · population 32,514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $683,000
- Household income
- $116,975
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 45.9
Fair Oaks is a community of 32,514 people in Sacramento County, California. The median home is worth $683,000, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 86% of California towns, more upscale than 80% of California towns, better for retirees than 78% of California towns.
How Fair Oaks ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fair Oaks is worth $683,000, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $116,975, which is more affordable than 61% of California towns. Median rent is $1,910 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fair Oaks | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $683,000 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,910 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $116,975 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Fair Oaks
| People | Fair Oaks | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.4% | — |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 93.3% |
Weather in Fair Oaks
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 41.1°F. About 19.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Oaks since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on December 24, 2015 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 24, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on October 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Sacramento County since 1996
Sacramento County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sacramento County
Sacramento County had 726,937 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,125 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Fair Oaks itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Fair Oaks
10 public schools with 6,230 students, about 22.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella Vista High | 9-12 | 1,926 | 24.1 |
| Del Campo High | 9-12 | 1,557 | 22.2 |
| Orangevale Open K-8 | K-8 | 585 | 24.4 |
| Will Rogers Middle | 6-8 | 581 | 19.4 |
| Earl Legette Elementary | K-6 | 548 | 24.9 |
| Northridge Elementary | K-6 | 398 | 22.1 |
| Harry Dewey Fundamental Elementary | K-6 | 388 | 21.6 |
| El Sereno Alternative Education | 9-12 | 145 | 11.2 |
| Meraki High | 8-12 | 82 | 27.3 |
| La Vista Center | 6-12 | 20 | 6.7 |
Towns near Fair Oaks
- Gold River, CA1.6 mi · 7,844 people · home $724,400
- Orangevale, CA3.1 mi · 35,569 people · home $565,100
- Citrus Heights, CA3.7 mi · 87,583 people · home $454,600
- Carmichael, CA4.2 mi · 79,793 people · home $579,500
- Rancho Cordova, CA5.1 mi · 79,332 people · home $477,600
- Foothill Farms, CA5.8 mi · 35,834 people · home $414,000
- Folsom, CA6.0 mi · 80,454 people · home $755,200
- North Highlands, CA6.7 mi · 49,327 people · home $367,600
Fair Oaks questions
Is Fair Oaks, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fair Oaks scores better for retirees than 78% of California towns and quieter than 49%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Fair Oaks?
The median owner-occupied home in Fair Oaks is valued at $683,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,975, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,910 a month.
What is the weather like in Fair Oaks?
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 41.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fair Oaks get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fair Oaks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on December 24, 2015. The typical California town has had 2.
- 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)