The Town FilesFairfax, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 2,828 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,500
- Household income
- $114,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.5
Fairfax is a city of 2,828 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $274,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 87% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Iowa towns.
How Fairfax ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfax is worth $274,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $114,375, which is more affordable than 41% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,366 a month. 92.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfax | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,366 | $820 |
| Median household income | $114,375 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairfax
| People | Fairfax | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fairfax
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 21, 2004 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 160 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 11, 2020.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Fairfax itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Fairfax
- Cedar Rapids, IA5.7 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Hiawatha, IA10.1 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Robins, IA11.9 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Marion, IA12.8 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
- North Liberty, IA15.2 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Tiffin, IA16.5 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- Solon, IA16.5 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- Center Point, IA17.8 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
Fairfax questions
Is Fairfax, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfax scores better for retirees than 16% of Iowa towns and quieter than 22%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Fairfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfax is valued at $274,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,375, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,366 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfax?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.2 inches of snow.
Does Fairfax get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 21, 2004. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)