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CITY

Fairfield

Iowa · 9,220 residents (2025 est.) · 6.614 sq mi
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The short version

Fairfield has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,311. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $156,000. The poverty rate of 20.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 32% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,456
−1%since 2000
from 9,509 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,430 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 1,438 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.0
−4%since 2000
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,220 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K10K10K10K1990201020202024Fairfield
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,311
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,202 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,189
+84%since 2000
from $19,673 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.549
+13%since 2010
from 0.487 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services13.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration10.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance0.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,000
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$870
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $428 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 59.2% in 2000
40.0% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+36%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
68
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fairfield on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.5%(8,798)
Black1%(92)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(251)
Asian2.5%(241)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.9%(1,416)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76%(7,183)
Black3.9%(368)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(449)
Asian11.7%(1,102)
Other3.7%(354)
Diversity Score50.5%(4,778)
Diversity Score
51
+239%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
52.9%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 39.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.2 min
+31%since 2000
from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
60.1%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.8%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
25.0%
+19.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.6%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.3%
−24.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
47.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
20.4%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−72.5 ptssince 2013
from 81.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2017
from 81.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.6%
−8.2 ptssince 2016
from 85.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Fairfield to nearby cities

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FAIRFIELD VS
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FAIRFIELD VS
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FAIRFIELD VS
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Home value$94,200−40%
Population9,935+8%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fairfield, Iowa?

Fairfield, Iowa has about 9,456 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fairfield, Iowa?

The typical household in Fairfield, Iowa earns about $51,311 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fairfield, Iowa expensive?

In Fairfield, Iowa, the median home is worth about $156,000, and the typical rent is about $870 a month.

How educated are people in Fairfield, Iowa?

About 52.9% of adults age 25 and over in Fairfield, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fairfield, Iowa?

About 20.7% of people in Fairfield, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fairfield, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Fairfield, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 312 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →