1st most populous of 133
With 1,160,925 residents in 2024, Fairfax County ranks 1st by population among Virginia's 133 counties and is home to 13.2% of the state's residents.
Fairfax County is home to 1,160,925 people (2024 estimate) on 391 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
1,160,925
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
1,150,292
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+0.9%
2020–2024
Land area
391 mi²
1,013 km²
Population density
2,969.0 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
11,744
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
5,633
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+6,111
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+8,053
Domestic + international, 2024
Median household income
$153,637
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
65.0%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
30.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$732,800
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.6%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–20241,160,925▲ 19%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 1,160,925 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 1,081,726 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 975,476 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +19.0% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +16,376 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −8,323 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 10.1 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 4.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Virginia | 1st of 133 | 2024 · calculated |
| Median household income | $153,637 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 65.0% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $732,800 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $2,276/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 39.1 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 414,101 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Fairfax County in context
Comparable indicators for Fairfax County, Virginia and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Virginia | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +0.9% | +2.1% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 10.1 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 4.9 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 6.9 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 2969.0 | 223.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Median household income | $153,637 | $93,170 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 9.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 65.0% | 42.2% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.8% | 13.1% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $732,800 | $383,700 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $2,276/month | $1,579/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 39.1 years | 39.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6% | 67.3% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
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Did you know? Fairfax County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 975,476 in 2000 to 1,160,925 in 2024, a change of +19.0%, compared with +24.0% for Virginia as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 11,744 births and 5,633 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 6,111.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 1,160,925.
12th in density
Fairfax County has about 2969.0 residents per square mile of land, ranking 12th of 133 counties; Virginia averages 223.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $153,637 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 2nd of 133 Virginia counties; the state median is $93,170.
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS