House and street corner, George Mason CDP, Fairfax County, VA, 2017
George Mason’s story
George Mason in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2017 and 7 maps from 1915 on.
Explore the history →
George MasonVA
A town of 9,937.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
9,937
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$728K
Census ACS
Household income
$150K
median
Median age
20.8
years
Jobs based here
7,498
A job hub
TownGrade
A−
Better than 83% of U.S. towns
Is George Mason a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. George Mason grades A− overall, better than 83% of U.S. towns. Natural-hazard risk is low. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 94% of the country and the median household earns $150K. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $728K, 5.7 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. George Mason is a college campus (most residents are students), so it isn’t ranked among Virginia’s towns. George Mason’s density of trails is 2.6 miles per square mile, above both Virginia’s towns (0.7) and U.S. towns (0.4). George Mason is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 97% of U.S. towns. George Mason is home to George Mason University.
What makes George Mason stand out
Where George Mason beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 97% of U.S. towns
23.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here7,498
Residents who work3,001
Work
2.5 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
A growing town
George Mason has grown 18% from 2010 to 2020
9,496 counted in 2010 and 11,162 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How George Mason grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far George Mason is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for hazard risk (better than 98% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 6%), so the A− overall blends very different results.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 5% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.6 of 20; 4.6% of households have no carA+Open →Cost of livingDOpen →HealthInova Fairfax Hospital 6.1 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 311 attractions →White House and 244 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around George Mason. Close and well known come first.
Big draw15 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw15 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw13 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw14 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw15 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw14 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M 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 · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to George Mason: who provides what
George Mason 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 codes22030, 2203222030 88% · 22032 12%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 George Mason.
George Mason is shaped by its college students, draws workers from Fairfax and beyond and has less COPD than most of Virginia.
SchoolsB+
George Mason’s schools rank ahead of 74% of Virginia districts
Its two schools are below. Public schools: the Fairfax County Public Schools. Enrollment at George Mason’s public school: 514 students.
74%of VA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax Villa ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 514 | A− |
| Trinity Christian School of Fairfax PrivateLargest high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 757 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA−
George Mason keeps 4.3% of its land conserved
Fairfax Villa Park, at 60 acres with 2.5 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. There are 6.6 miles of trail across 2 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in George Mason: 2, covering 70 acres.
#13for trails in VA
4.3%
conserved · 70 of 1,624 acres
6.6 mi
of trails · 2.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fairfax Villa Park | 2.5 mi | 60 |
| 2. University Park | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
For most of its workers, the job is outside George Mason
7,498 jobs are based in George Mason, 2.5 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 30% of workers work from home, against 18.3% across Virginia.
The top destinations are Washington (10%), Springfield (6%) and Arlington (6%). George Mason’s typical household income stands at $150,000, against $101,000 in Virginia’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. Since 2013, George Mason has added 1,557 jobs, to 7,498 in 2023. Its typical journey to work is 24 minutes.
6%work in town
| George Mason | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $150,000 | $101,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In George Mason6%
Washington10%
Springfield6%
Arlington6%
Tysons5%
11 mi
median commute distance
7,498
jobs based in George Mason
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 97% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthA
George Mason stands out in Virginia and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have high blood pressure
Its widest gap with Virginia is COPD: 2.7% of its 8,088 adults have COPD, against 6.2% statewide. Against the 2,716 U.S. towns with household incomes like George Mason’s, it is healthier than 70%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
For adults in George Mason, the share who binge drink is 17%. Only 5 of the 253 Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than George Mason. Against the Virginia average, George Mason comes out ahead on 14 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 5.
94%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| George Mason | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 33% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 34% | 33% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 6.1% | 11% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 34% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Virginia
14 better13 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | George Mason | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with COPD | 2.7% | 6.2% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 2.7% | 6.1% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 60.9% | 76.8% |
Inova Fairfax Hospital
6.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
72nd
percentile among VA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
George Mason has a very low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
FEMA puts 56% of George Mason’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 17% to hurricanes. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 95% of U.S. communities. One claim on flood insurance has been paid out locally since 2015.
5risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
1
paid flood claims since 2015
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is George Mason’s year
July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 26° and about 13 inches of snow falls in a winter.
13″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–45°
Spring44–65°
Summer65–85°
Fall48–68°
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
A home in George Mason sells for about $943K at the median
The median property tax bill is $7,173, against $2,790 across Virginia, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
George Mason: 81% of households own their home. In George Mason, the rent at the middle of the market is $2,426 a month. Bidding over the asking price: 83% of homes sold locally.
$943Kmedian sale price
| George Mason | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,426 a month | $1,760 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 81% | 68% | 73% |
Market temperature
3
days on market
108.3%
sale-to-list price
6
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about George Mason
17pages on George Mason
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
19 within 15 miles of the center of George Mason
George Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · George MasonIn town$14,220 in-state tuitionNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Annandale3.5 mi$5,891 in-state tuitionAgora UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Burke4.4 mi
College town 54 of every 100 George Mason residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
College town
54% of George Mason is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
About George Mason
Unincorporated community in Virginia, US
George Mason is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population at the 2020 census was 11,162. It consists of George Mason University and some adjacent neighborhoods to the south and southwest of the city of Fairfax, and is named for American Founding Father George Mason.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 450 ft
George Mason’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with George Mason.
FairfaxBraddockKings Park WestLong BranchFair OaksGeorge Mason
How the neighbors grade
| Town | VA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason | – | A− | D | — | B+ | A |
| Fairfax | #164 | B | D | C− | — | A |
| Braddock | #79 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Kings Park West | #33 | A | C− | — | B+ | A+ |
| Long Branch | #4 | A+ | C+ | — | B+ | A+ |
| Fair Oaks | #60 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
George Mason, Braddock, Kings Park West, Long Branch and Fair Oaks report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare George Mason with a neighbor →
Questions about George Mason
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is George Mason, VA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. George Mason grades A− overall, better than 83% of U.S. towns. George Mason is a college campus (most residents are students), so it isn’t ranked among Virginia’s towns. It grades A for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is George Mason, VA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $728,000, 77% 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.