Group, Major Robertson and friends, 1861
Fair Oaks’s story
Fair Oaks in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1861 and 7 maps from 1915 on.
Explore the history →
Fair OaksVA
With 35,545 residents, it is a town in Virginia.
6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
35,545
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$608K
Census ACS
Household income
$124K
median
Median age
35.5
years
Jobs based here
38,441
A job hub
TownGrade
A
#60 of 249 in VA
Is Fair Oaks a good place to live?
Fair Oaks’s overall grade is A, better than 90% of U.S. towns. That places it 60th of 249 in Virginia. Health is its strong suit (A+). It also does well on walkability: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 93% of U.S. towns. What holds it back is cost of living (D) — the typical home is worth about $608K, 4.8 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. The biggest park or preserve is Carney Park, at 41 acres. 69% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more here, against 44% in Virginia’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Fair Oaks stand out
Where Fair Oaks beats most towns.
32 measures vs. Virginia
22 better8 too close to call2 worse
| Widest gap | Fair Oaks | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.8% | 11.1% |
HealthA+
Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here38,441
Residents who work16,651
Work
2.3 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
4.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
Fair Oaks has grown 13% from 2010 to 2020
30,223 counted in 2010 and 34,052 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Fair Oaks grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Fair Oaks is from typical.
HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Reston Hospital Center 6.7 miles awayA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.3 of 20; 3.9% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listAOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesDOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedA−Open →SchoolsAbove the middle of the towns comparedB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB+Open →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 310 attractions →White House and 245 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Fair Oaks. Close and well known come first.
Big draw17 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw17 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw16 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw16 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw18 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
6 mi MuseumSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center1.6M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
Moving to Fair Oaks: who provides what
Fair Oaks is unincorporated, so Fairfax County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDominion Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFairfax WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFairfax CountyFairfax County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFairfax General RegistrarFairfax County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes22033, 22030, 2212422033 51% · 22030 47% · 22124 2%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 Fair Oaks.
Fair Oaks draws workers from Centreville and beyond, has less tooth loss than most of Virginia and is mostly renters.
HealthA+
Among the healthiest U.S. towns
Its widest gap with Virginia is tooth loss: 4.8% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.1% statewide.
15% of adults binge drink in Fair Oaks. Against the Virginia average, Fair Oaks comes out ahead on 22 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 2. In Fair Oaks, 24% of adults have high blood pressure, and 8.7% report frequent physical distress.
99%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Fair Oaks | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 34% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 33% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.7% | 12% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Virginia
22 better8 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Fair Oaks | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 3% | 6.2% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 70.5% | 76.8% |
Reston Hospital Center
6.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
96th
percentile among VA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Fair Oaks beat 74% of Virginia districts
Public schools: the Fairfax County Public Schools. Two of its 3 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. 2 public schools serve Fair Oaks, with 1,415 students in all.
74%of VA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waples Mill ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 750 | B+ |
| Phillips School - Fairfax PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 1–12 | Grades 1–12 | 63 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Fair Oaks sends most of its workers out of town
38,441 jobs are based in Fair Oaks, 2.3 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 28.8% of workers work from home, against 18.3% across Virginia.
The top destinations are Washington (9%), Tysons (8%) and Arlington (7%). Fair Oaks’ median household income is $124,000. Jobs based in Fair Oaks grew to 38,441 in 2023, 3,291 more than in 2013. The share of workers in Fair Oaks who do their job from home: 29%.
7%work in town
| Fair Oaks | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 29% | 17% | 11% |
| Median household income | $124,000 | $101,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Fair Oaks7%
Washington9%
Tysons8%
Arlington7%
Springfield6%
10 mi
median commute distance
38,441
jobs based in Fair Oaks
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Top of a very low hazard risk in Fair Oaks: inland flooding
Fair Oaks’ risk rating from FEMA comes in at 11 of 100. Expected losses in Fair Oaks break down as 65% from inland flooding and 10% from hurricanes. Paid flood insurance claims locally since 2014: 2.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesHeat waves
2
paid flood claims since 2014
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB+
In Fair Oaks, 4.1% of the land is conserved
Walkers can cover 3.1 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves. In Fair Oaks, the density of trails is 0.6 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves locally: 11, covering 140 acres.
#136for trails in VA
| Fair Oaks | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
4.1%
conserved · 131 of 3,214 acres
3.1 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carney Park | 0.6 mi | 41 |
| 2. Waples Mill Meadow Park | 0.2 mi | 38 |
| 3. Fair Woods Park | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Fair Oaks’ year
The seasons in Fair Oaks: chilly winters, warm summers. Summer afternoons peak near 87° in July, and January nights bottom out around 26°; snowfall runs to about 21 inches a winter.
21″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–45°
Spring44–65°
Summer65–85°
Fall47–67°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
Homes in Fair Oaks sell for about $670K
The median property tax bill is $6,049, against $2,790 across Virginia, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
Homes sold in Fair Oaks spent a median 27 days on the market. Fair Oaks’ midpoint rent stands at $2,275 a month. 45% of Fair Oaks households own their home.
$670Kmedian sale price
| Fair Oaks | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 45% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $2,275 a month | $1,760 a month | $1,185 a month |
Market temperature
27
days on market
100.6%
sale-to-list price
29
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fair Oaks
17pages on Fair Oaks
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Fair Oaks
George Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Fairfax3.5 mi$14,220 in-state tuitionNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Annandale6.9 mi$5,891 in-state tuitionArizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Falls Church7.5 mi$24,413 tuition
About 12 of every 100 Fair Oaks residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
A job hub
Every workday, about 37,273 people come to Fair Oaks for work
Where Fair Oaks’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
38,441jobs based in Fair Oaks
7%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Fair Oaks
Census-designated place in Virginia, United States
Fair Oaks is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population at the 2020 census was 34,052. It encompasses a large area west of the city of Fairfax, centered on Fair Oaks Mall. Suburban neighborhoods and office parks occupy most of Fair Oaks, largely developed since the 1980s. The Fair Oaks CDP is bordered by Fair Lakes and Greenbriar to the west, and by Oakton and Fairfax city to the east. The Fair Oaks Mall is at the center of the CDP, in the angle formed by U.S. Route 50 to the northeast and Interstate 66 to the south, which intersect at I-66's Exit 57. I-66 leads east 19 miles (31 km) to Washington, D.C., and west 61 miles (98 km) to Strasburg. U.S. …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 420 ft
Fair Oaks’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Fair Oaks.
OaktonDifficult RunFair LakesFairfaxNavyGeorge MasonFair Oaks
How the neighbors grade
| Town | VA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Oaks | #60 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Oakton | #18 | A+ | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Difficult Run | #46 | A | C− | — | B+ | A+ |
| Fair Lakes | #62 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Fairfax | #164 | B | D | C− | — | A |
| Navy | #42 | A | C− | — | B+ | A+ |
| George Mason | – | A− | D | — | B+ | A |
Fair Oaks, Oakton, Difficult Run, Fair Lakes, Navy and George Mason report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Fair Oaks with a neighbor →
Questions about Fair Oaks
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fair Oaks, VA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Fair Oaks grades A overall, better than 90% of U.S. towns and #60 of 249 in Virginia. It grades A+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Fair Oaks, VA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $608,000, 48% above the Virginia typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.