Fairfax City has become a popular place to live. The city had the fastest population growth rate between 2020 and 2025 among Virginia cities with at least 20,000 residents, according to Every City in the USA. The website compiles U.S. Census Bureau data to track population and geographic trends.
According to May 2025 U.S. Census Bureau data, Fairfax City’s population grew 10.88% between 2020 and 2025 — from 24,146 residents to 26,772.
Fairfax City’s online demographic profile states that, as of 2024, the city had 10,467 housing units and 16,000 registered voters. The median household income was $132,774.
City mayor Catherine Read told Patch that the growth was due in part to the city adding more high-density housing. “With the opening of Scout on the Circle in 2020, the city continues to build more units per acre than in the previous history of the city,” she said. “Subsequently, our formerly incremental population growth from 2000 to 2020 has shown a marked increase.”
Fairfax City councilmember Rachel McQuillen emphasized the need for long-term planning to handle more residents. “We must ensure our public infrastructure, particularly our schools, can keep pace sustainably and affordably,” she told Patch. “As someone who has consistently raised concerns about school capacity, long-term operating costs, and housing affordability, I believe this data reinforces the importance of making thoughtful, financially responsible decisions as we plan for the future.”
Other NoVA areas that saw population growth over the same time frame include Fredericksburg at 8.6%, Bristol at 4.8%, Haymarket at 4.4%, Manassas at 3.6%, and Leesburg at 3.3%.
Feature image courtesy City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation
