The Town FilesFairfax, Missouri
City in Atchison County · population 648 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,500
- Household income
- $56,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 47.2
Fairfax is a city of 648 people in Atchison County, Missouri. The median home is worth $90,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns, quieter than 91% of Missouri towns, better transit than 86% of Missouri towns.
How Fairfax ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfax is worth $90,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $56,250, which is more affordable than 94% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $550 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfax | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $550 | $855 |
| Median household income | $56,250 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairfax
| People | Fairfax | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Fairfax
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 23, 1955 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 22, 1996.
Severe weather in Atchison County since 1996
Atchison County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 20, 2019 | Flood | DR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Atchison County
Atchison County had 1,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,066 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Fairfax itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Fairfax
3 public schools with 143 students, about 7.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRFAX ELEM. | PK-6 | 74 | 7.4 |
| FAIRFAX HIGH | 7-12 | 69 | 8.6 |
| COMMUNITY FOR KIDS | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Fairfax
- Tarkio, MO7.2 mi · 1,506 people · home $87,800
- Rock Port, MO8.9 mi · 1,278 people · home $115,600
- Mound City, MO16.3 mi · 1,004 people · home $146,300
- Burlington Junction, MO18.6 mi · 521 people · home $90,600
- Peru, NE20.3 mi · 648 people · home $96,600
- Falls City, NE22.1 mi · 4,133 people · home $89,800
- Hamburg, IA23.1 mi · 890 people · home $106,300
- Auburn, NE24.0 mi · 3,470 people · home $98,800
Fairfax questions
Is Fairfax, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfax scores better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns and quieter than 91%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Fairfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfax is valued at $90,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,250, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $550 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfax?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Fairfax get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 23, 1955. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)