Fair Lakes, VA vs Fairfax, VA

Fair Lakes, VA and Fairfax, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Fair Lakes scores 156 while Fairfax scores 158 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fair Lakes is $2,325/month compared to $2,122/month in Fairfax — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairfax has cheaper rent, Fair Lakes actually has lower median home values ($575,500 vs $677,400).

Median household income in Fair Lakes is $130,789 compared to $132,774 in Fairfax (-1.5%). While Fairfax is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fair Lakes spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.2% in Fairfax.