For most people who can afford it, yes. Fairfield grades A− overall, ranked 38th of 151 in Connecticut. It is among the healthiest towns in the country on CDC estimates. The median household earns $172K and its schools outperform 79% of the state's. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $995K, 8.7 years of the Bridgeport metro’s $115K median household income. Fairfield’s median household income is $172,000, where Connecticut’s towns sit at $109,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. Fairfield is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 94% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings include Birdcraft Sanctuary and Jonathan Sturges House.

StrongestA⁺Health AWalkability AHistoryWeakestDCost of living C⁻Hazard risk

What makes Fairfield stand out

Where Fairfield beats most towns.

Birdcraft Sanctuary

HistoryA

Settled in 1639

13 places on the National Register

A history going back 387 years.

32 measures vs. Connecticut

22 better10 too close to call0 worse

Widest gap	Fairfield	CT
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	6.8%	14.9%

HealthA⁺

Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns

Beats CT on 22 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none

Less healthyHealthier

CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.

WalkabilityA

More walkable than 94% of U.S. towns

10.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Birdcraft Sanctuary · National Register of Historic Places

Fairfield’s story

387 years in pictures

Birdcraft Sanctuary is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1639, comes before those of 93% of the Connecticut towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 4,151 in 1820, a low of 3,614 in 1850, 61,512 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1800 and 4 maps from 1892 on.

13 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1639Fairfield is settled

Explore the history →

How Fairfield grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Connecticut), ordered by how far Fairfield is from typical.

How grading works

HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; St. Vincent's Medical Center 4 miles awayA⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.2 of 20; 2.8% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →Jobs & incomeA⁻Open →SchoolsA⁻Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC⁻Open →SafetyBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors4% conserved landA⁻Open →History25 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life6 library visits per resident; 4.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.1; 71% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

United States Military Academy and 121 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Fairfield. Close and well known come first.

All 577 attractions →

Big draw39 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy

31 mi LandmarkFerncliff Cemetery

19 mi Stadium & arenaYale Bowl

39 mi Zoo & aquariumBronx Zoo

35 mi Stadium & arenaNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

14 mi MuseumGlass House

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Ferncliff Cemetery: Anthony22 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yale Bowl: Kenneth Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bronx Zoo: Stavenn, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum: iMatthew // talk //, Public domain · Glass House: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain

Getting set up

Moving to Fairfield: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Fairfield, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEversource28.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterAquarion WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpFairfield Transfer Station & Recycling CenterHire your ownTown site

SchoolsFairfield School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Connecticut you can register online until 18 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 18 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereFairfield Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2019

ZIP codes06824, 06825, 0689006824 57% · 06825 36% · 06890 7%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Fairfield.

Fairfield trades workers with Stamford and other neighbors and is safe by national standards but not by Connecticut’s; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Connecticut.

HousingCost of living grade D

Fairfield’s grade for cost of living is a D

At 8.7 years of the Bridgeport metro’s $115K median household income, the typical home (about $995K) costs more against local pay than in 95% of Connecticut towns; that ratio is one input to its D for cost of living.

The median rent in Fairfield is $2,185 a month. Typical home values rose 9.1% in the year to September 2026. 83% of Fairfield households own their home.

$995KZillow home value

	Fairfield	Connecticut towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$2,185 a month	$1,448 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	83%	81%	73%

Typical home value

Fairfield$995K

Connecticut$447K

+9.1%

value change, 1 year

Full pageFairfield’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 9.1% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.8 years of income Rents$2,185 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 5 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsA⁻

Fairfield’s grade for schools is an A−

Its public schools are run by the Fairfield School District. Three of its 28 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

79%of CT districts it outscoresA⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Roger Ludlowe Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	764	A
Fairfield Ludlowe High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,367	A⁺
Sherman SchoolTop results in townGrades K–5	Grades K–5	385	A⁺

Full pageFairfield’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsFairfield School District Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 5 graded neighbors Every school28 schools · McKinley School Questions“Are Fairfield’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CT on state tests and graduation

HealthA⁺

Fairfield stands out in Connecticut and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

Its widest gap with Connecticut is food insecurity: 6.8% of its 22,411 adults worry about having enough food, against 14.9% statewide.

21% of adults have obesity in Fairfield. Among 154 Connecticut towns, just 1 have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Fairfield. 25% of adults have high blood pressure in Fairfield.

99%healthier than U.S. townsA⁺Health Grade

	Fairfield	Connecticut towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	21%	30%	35%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	25%	33%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	9.2%	12%	14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	6.3%	9.7%	14%

32 measures vs. Connecticut

22 better10 too close to call0 worse

What stands out	Fairfield	CT
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	6.8%	14.9%
Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off	4.1%	8.4%

St. Vincent's Medical Center

4 mi away · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: mental health

95th

percentile among CT towns

Full pageFairfield’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby4 miles to an ER · St. Vincent's Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than CT on 22 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsA⁻

Conserved land covers 4.2% of Fairfield

48 miles of trail in 77 parks and preserves. Fairfield’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile. Among 155 Connecticut towns, just 7 have a lower share of conserved land than Fairfield.

#57for trails in CT

	Fairfield	Connecticut towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.5 miles per square mile	1.3	0.4
Conserved land	4.2%	14%	4.3%

4.2%

conserved · 848 of 19,967 acres

48 mi

of trails · 1.5 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Lake Mohegan Recreation Area	7.6 mi	171
2. Roy & Margot Larsen Sanctuary	5.9 mi	156
3. Brett Woods Open Space	4.3 mi	191

Full pageFairfield’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map48 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk7.6 miles of trail · Lake Mohegan Recreation Area Conserved land4.2% conserved · 848 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Fairfield?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C⁻

Fairfield faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

2,056 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 173 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 2,056 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Fairfield.

72risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCoastal floodingHurricanes

2,056

paid flood claims since 1978

Full pageFairfield’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims2,056 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disastersPast disasters Get ready3.5 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Fairfield, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Fairfield has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 22° and about 34 inches of snow falls in a winter.

34″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter24–41°

Spring39–60°

Summer62–82°

Fall45–64°

Nov 6

typical first frost

Apr 5

typical last frost

+2.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageFairfield’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 22°Rain & snow34″ of snow a winter · 49 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+2.1° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade A⁻

About one in six working residents works right in Fairfield

Fairfield has about as many jobs (24,737) as working residents, but only 4,371 people both live and work here. 28.4% of workers work from home, against 16% across Connecticut.

Most working residents leave Fairfield for work: only 18% work in town. Since 2013, Fairfield has added 2,357 jobs, to 24,737 in 2023. The top destinations are Stamford (10%), New York (7%) and Norwalk (7%).

18%work in town

	Fairfield	Connecticut towns	U.S. towns
Work from home	28%	15%	11%
Average trip to work	33 minutes	27 minutes	25 minutes
Working residents who work in town	18%	11%	8%
Below the poverty line	4.7%	5.8%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Fairfield18%

Stamford10%

New York7%

Norwalk7%

Bridgeport6%

13 mi

median commute distance

24,737

jobs based in Fairfield

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns

Full pageFairfield’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here24,737 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work18% work in Fairfield Commute times33 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 13 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyB

Fairfield reports less crime per resident than 60% of U.S. towns

At 14.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 52% of Connecticut’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 1,135 to 702 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Among 90 Connecticut towns, just 3 have a lower violent crime rate than Fairfield.

60%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade

	Fairfield	Connecticut towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.1 per 1,000 residents	0.4	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	10.5 per 1,000 residents	9.6	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Fairfield0.1

Connecticut1.1

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Fairfield10.5

Connecticut11.6

U.S.15.5

60th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

48th

percentile among CT towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

698

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageFairfield’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type0.1 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 5 graded neighbors Questions“Is Fairfield, CT safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fairfield

20pages on Fairfield

The big questions

SchoolsA⁻Beat 79% of CT districts · 28 schools SafetyB0.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁺Better than CT on 22 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD$995K typical home · up 9.1% in a year Work & commuteA⁻$172K median household income · 24,737 jobs here Natural hazardsC⁻FEMA risk higher than 72% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻48 mi of trails · 4% conserved land PlacesAttractions577 nearby · Fairfield University Art Museum under 1 mi LibraryA⁻6 library visits per resident CollegesFairfield University, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1639 · 13 on the National Register Famous people25 born in Fairfield Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 34 residents Climate84° summer highs · 34″ of snow

Day to day

News2 recent stories about Fairfield WeatherHandbookZIP code 06824, 06825, 06828 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

4 within 15 miles of the center of Fairfield

Fairfield UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · FairfieldIn town$58,350 tuition Sacred Heart UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · FairfieldIn town$50,404 tuition Paier CollegeUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Bridgeport4.1 mi

About 11 of every 100 Fairfield residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Connecticut.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

By the sea

Fairfield lives by the ocean

Coastal flooding makes up 29% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.

29%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding

99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally

2,056paid flood-insurance claims since 1978

87thpercentile for hurricane risk

On the water

Old Dam Road Marsh Open Space Directions ↗
Pine Creek Marsh Directions ↗
Old Field Marsh Open Space
Welch Terrace Marsh Open Space Directions ↗

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap

Landmarks

13 places in Fairfield on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Birdcraft SanctuaryNational Historic Landmark

Jonathan Sturges HouseNational Historic Landmark

Greenfield Hill Historic District

Fairfield Historic District

Famous people from Fairfield

25 notable people were born in Fairfield.

See all 25 →

Meg RyanAmerican actress · born 1961

Henry Fairfield OsbornAmerican geologist · 1857–1935

Samuel JonesAmerican athlete · 1880–1954

Matt MorganAmerican professional wrestler · born 1976

David PittuAmerican actor · born 1967

John Sloss HobartAmerican statesman · 1738–1805

About Fairfield

Town in Connecticut, United States

Official town website ↗

Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of 2020, the town had a population of 61,512. The town is part of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region. Fairfield is a hub of higher education, enrolling more than 17,000 students between Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1639
Area: 31 sq mi
Elevation: 59 ft
ZIP code: 06824, 06825, 06828
Area code: 203

Fairfield’s neighbors

10 towns share a border with Fairfield.

Explore the map →

How the neighbors grade

Town	CT rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Fairfield	#38	A⁻	D	B	A⁻	A⁺
Bridgeport	#146	D⁻	C⁻	C	D	C
Westport	#14	A	D⁻	B⁺	A⁺	A⁺
Easton	#5	A⁺	D	A	A⁺	A⁺
Staples	—	—	—	—	—	—
Weston	#8	A⁺	D⁻	A⁺	A	A⁺
Southport	—	—	—	—	—	—
Greens Farms	—	—	—	—	—	—

Staples, Southport and Greens Farms aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Fairfield with a neighbor →

Questions about Fairfield

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Fairfield, CT a good place to live?

For most people who can afford it, yes. Fairfield grades A− overall, better than 80% of U.S. towns and #38 of 151 in Connecticut. It grades A+ for health, B for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Fairfield, CT expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.

What is Fairfield, CT known for?

25 notable people were born here, including Meg Ryan and Henry Fairfield Osborn.

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