Fairfax city
VA · Pop. 24,478 · Urban County
Fairfax city, Virginia covers 6 square miles with a population of 24,478 and a density of 4079.7 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. A median home price of $677,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.94% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.3°F and average winter lows of 25.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 44.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Inova Fairfax Hospital is 3.9 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes.
Pros
- A long 198-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.94% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
- Annual rainfall of 44.4 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- A median home price of $677,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The nearest hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital, is 3.9 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- At 4079.7 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Fairfax city, VA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 54/100
- Median home price
- $677k
- Property tax
- 0.94%
- Growing season
- 198 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 44.4"
- Broadband
- 94.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Fairfax city: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Fairfax city?
- Fairfax city is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.3°F, and average winter lows of 25.6°F.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $677,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.94%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Inova Fairfax Hospital is 3.9 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Fairfax city by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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