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CITY

Fairfield

Illinois · 4,794 residents (2025 est.) · 4.097 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 $41,989. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 860 residents. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $88,800. With a median age of 46.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 50% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
4,561
−16%since 2000
from 5,421 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,113 / sq mi
−16%since 2000
from 1,323 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
46.4
+8%since 2000
from 42.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,794 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K5K5K5K6K1990201020202024Fairfield
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,989
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,797 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,775
+113%since 2000
from $16,791 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.8%
+18.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.538
+28%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information19.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade17%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$88,800
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$585
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $276 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
32.4% rent
Vacancy rate
10.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+23%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fairfield on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(5,316)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(23)
Asian0.6%(34)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.9%(155)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(4,265)
Black0.4%(19)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(118)
Asian1%(47)
Other2.5%(112)
Diversity Score15.5%(708)
Diversity Score
16
+443%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.2%
+17.4 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+49%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.0%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
20.2%
−35.8 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.5%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
Female
48.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−36.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 21.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−82.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.9%
+22.4 ptssince 2017
from 59.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fairfield, Illinois?

Fairfield, Illinois has about 4,561 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fairfield, Illinois?

The typical household in Fairfield, Illinois earns about $41,989 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fairfield, Illinois expensive?

In Fairfield, Illinois, the median home is worth about $88,800, and the typical rent is about $585 a month.

How educated are people in Fairfield, Illinois?

About 14.8% of adults age 25 and over in Fairfield, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fairfield, Illinois?

About 17.7% of people in Fairfield, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fairfield, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Fairfield, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 878 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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

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