City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Fairfield, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fairfield - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,438
Residents
$48,302
Median income
$152,900
Median home
$1,084
Median rent (state)

Fairfield - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Fairfield lands in the 17th percentile for household income and the 80th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
80th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fairfield, IA

Iowa's Fairfield is a small town, with 9,438 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Fairfield brings in $48,302 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Fairfield's housing stock carries a median value of $152,900, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. About 51.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 98% from five years earlier. Fairfield reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 626.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.7°F with 38.4 inches of precipitation per year and 21.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,084 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 27.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

9,438 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$48,302 /yr

Poverty 9.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Fairfield compare to other US cities?

Fairfield measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 80% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Iowa alone, Fairfield ranks #51 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fairfield's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

17thIncome percentile
80thSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 80th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fairfield's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fairfield's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Fairfield's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fairfield's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$152,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fairfield $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fairfield, IA Fairfield, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fairfield, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fairfield, IA median $48,302/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fairfield, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fairfield, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 51.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,438
Median Income
$48,302
Median Home Value
$152,900
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Labor force participation
54.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
51.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
626.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
140.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
486.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.7°F
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
21.7"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,100 residents9,200 residents9,300 residents9,400 residents9,500 residents9,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,445 residents 9,220 residents ▼ -2.4%
Fairfield's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 41
2020 14
2021 17
2022 13
2023 9
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 98% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
56.8%
Carpool
7.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.4%
Work from Home
25.4%
Other
4.7%

Based on 4,368 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fairfield sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,084/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
27.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Grinnell
9,527 people
Keokuk
9,748 people
Mount Pleasant
9,093 people
Fort Madison
10,221 people
Carroll
10,261 people
Waverly
10,446 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfield's 9,438 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hailey, ID
9,439 people
Ashland, NJ
9,437 people
Wasilla, AK
9,435 people
Steger, IL
9,449 people
Beckett Ridge, OH
9,451 people
Madeira, OH
9,454 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairfield's $48,302 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jesup, GA
$48,306 median income
Crestline, OH
$48,298 median income
Greenville, GA
$48,295 median income
Queen City, MO
$48,295 median income
Caroga Lake, NY
$48,295 median income
Jackson, NC
$48,292 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fairfield, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fairfield, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.3% 9.7% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 77.3% Black or African American 9.7% Asian 6.7% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 3.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fairfield compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fairfield (this city) 9,438 $48,302
Grinnell 9,527 $64,426
Keokuk 9,748 $49,340
Mount Pleasant 9,093 $59,216
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fairfield, IA?

What is the population of Fairfield, IA? +

The population of Fairfield, IA stands at 9,438 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fairfield, IA? +

In Fairfield, the typical household earns $48,302 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fairfield? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fairfield; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

Is Fairfield, IA safe? +

Fairfield has a total crime rate of 626.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fairfield, IA? +

The median home value in Fairfield is $152,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fairfield? +

Climate normals put Fairfield's yearly average temperature at 49.7°F, 38.4 inches of precipitation, and 21.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.