What it's like to live in Fairfield
Fairfield is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fairfield deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Fairfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fairfield
Based on Fairfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,484
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,680 a year
- 47% of Fairfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,450
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,242/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,242 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $234,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $234,500 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 45% below US
180 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1413/100k · Fairfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 15% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is William Howard Taft National Historic Site (15 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fairfield's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,242/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Fairfield
All Ohio guides →Moving to Forest Park →
3 mi away · pop. 20,025
Rent $1,306/mo · Income $75,956
Compare with Fairfield →Moving to Springdale →
4 mi away · pop. 11,033
Rent $1,226/mo · Income $67,903
Compare with Fairfield →Moving to Northbrook →
6 mi away · pop. 10,742
Rent $1,555/mo · Income $67,426
Compare with Fairfield →Not sure Fairfield is the one?
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