The Town FilesFairfield, Washington
Town in Spokane County · population 589 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,100
- Household income
- $81,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.7
Fairfield is a town of 589 people in Spokane County, Washington. The median home is worth $249,100, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Washington towns, hipper than 81% of Washington towns.
How Fairfield ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairfield is worth $249,100, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $81,923, which is more affordable than 99% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,172 a month. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairfield | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,100 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,172 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $81,923 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairfield
| People | Fairfield | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 39.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Fairfield
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.1 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 6, 1957 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1957.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 11, 2022.
Severe weather in Spokane County since 1996
Spokane County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Fire | EM-3650: Wildfires |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5658: Fairview Fire |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5659: Autumn Lane Fire |
| August 1, 2026 | Fire | FM-5656: Old Trails Fire |
| June 16, 2026 | Fire | FM-5638: Upriver Fire |
Jobs and pay in Spokane County
Spokane County had 243,161 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,488 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Fairfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Fairfield
- Rockford, WA5.1 mi · 522 people · home $328,600
- Tekoa, WA12.0 mi · 817 people · home $211,900
- Rosalia, WA13.9 mi · 598 people · home $197,700
- Plummer, ID14.1 mi · 1,015 people · home $197,200
- Spokane Valley, WA19.4 mi · 102,976 people · home $382,300
- Liberty Lake, WA19.9 mi · 12,003 people · home $577,500
- Cheney, WA20.4 mi · 13,255 people · home $395,900
- Millwood, WA21.4 mi · 1,881 people · home $358,900
Fairfield questions
Is Fairfield, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairfield scores better for retirees than 68% of Washington towns and quieter than 72%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Fairfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairfield is valued at $249,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,923, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,172 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairfield?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31.1 inches of snow.
Does Fairfield get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fairfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 6, 1957. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)