[Greater DC]

Fairfax County

Fairfax County seal

Fast Facts:

  • Fairfax was home to 1,138,331 people and had 429,828 housing units in 2022. Since 2010, Fairfax has added an average of 4,600 people and 1,800 housing units per year.
  • Thirty-one percent of households were renters and 46 percent of renters had unaffordable housing costs.
  • Fairfax did not meet the annual production target of 4,070 units, with 3,443 new units built in 2023. Cumulatively, Fairfax has produced at least 12,197 units since 2019, short of its 5-year target of 20,350.
  • Fairfax County has not adopted the 2030 COG housing targets but has established a goal for 10,000 net new affordable housing units by 2034.
Sources: Census Population and Housing Unit Estimates, Decennial Census, American Community Survey (2018-22), and the HIT survey of local jurisdictions.
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Fairfax County
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Policy Status

Solving the region's affordable housing crisis requires a portfolio of policies to preserve existing affordable housing, produce more housing, and protect people from discrimination and displacement.

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Right of First Refusal

  • Fairfax County

Preservation Inventory - Subsidized

  • Fairfax County

Preservation Inventory - Unsubsidized

  • Fairfax County

Rental Assistance Demonstration

  • Fairfax County

Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Homeowners

  • Fairfax County

Energy Efficiency Upgrades of Affordable Housing

  • Fairfax County

Housing Outcomes

Local jurisdictions submitted data to enable the region to track housing production, preservation, and rental affordability.

Amount of Housing

Number of units built by type

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,000Units1,5841,2712,2491,4088375801,2852,158Fairfax County20192020202120222023
Multifamily
Single-family

Affordability of Housing

Share of units affordable to households with low incomes

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty11%7%5%18%22%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Accessibility of Housing

Share of affordable units in COG Activity Centers or near high-capacity transit

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty86%48%90%43%
2019
2020
2022
2023

Housing Cost: Lowest
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 0-29.9% of area median

020406080100Share of annual target FairfaxCounty0%3%3%0%6%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Housing Cost: Low
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 30-49.9% of area median

020406080100Share of annual target FairfaxCounty0%0%25%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Housing Cost: Low-Middle
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 50-79.9% of area median

020406080100Share of annual target FairfaxCounty43%28%4%29%74%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Building Permits for New Construction

Number of units permitted by type

02,0004,0006,0008,000Units5,1931,925Fairfax County20212022
Multifamily
Single-family

Affordable Housing in Development

Number of units

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Units1,1962,0191,0231,424986Fairfax County202120222023
In the pipeline
Under construction

Affordable Housing Preservation

Number of units preserved as committed affordable by type

05001,0001,5002,000Units0829106Fairfax County20222023
Units with existing subsidies
Units previously unsubsidized

Note: Charles, Frederick, Rockville, City of Fairfax, Prince William, and Manassas do not track preservation.

Structural Racism

Discriminatory actions and racist public policies have produced inequitable outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the Washington region, including lower incomes and wealth, lower homeownership rates, and higher rates of housing cost burden.

Income

Average household income by race and ethnicity, 2018-22

$0$50,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$ FairfaxCountyRace and ethnicity$178,900$127,100$133,700$146,500$209,100
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homeownership

Homeownership rate by race and ethnicity, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCountyRace and ethnicity71%46%53%55%75%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations by race and ethnicity, 2022

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent FairfaxCountyRace and ethnicity7%6%9%28%50%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous or Multiple race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. For mortgages with an applicant and a co-applicant, if they identify the same way they are captured in that category, otherwise if they have different identities they would be included in the Indigenous or Multiple race category.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Credit Denials

Ratio of denial rates for mortgages between white borrowers and borrowers of color, 2022

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

00.20.40.60.81Ratio FairfaxCounty0.409

Note: If White borrowers and borrowers of Color were denied mortgages at the same rate we would expect to see a ratio equal to 1. Values under 1 indicate that borrowers of Color have higher denial rates than White borrowers.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCountyRace and ethnicity40%55%57%54%39%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white. Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Housing Context

Understanding how household incomes relate to the supply of affordable rental and homeownership units will inform jurisdictions' efforts to meet the current and future housing needs of residents.

Household Income

Distribution of households by income level relative to the area median income, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty9%8%6%27%27%23%
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2022.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Household Income

Change in households by income level relative to the area median income, 2008-12 to 2018-22

-15,000-10,000-5,00005,00010,000Households FairfaxCountyIncome level4,9202,450-2,4006,92012,560
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Incomes are in 2022 dollars. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2022.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty8%18%35%20%10%9%
$0-$1099
$1,100-$1,799
$1,800-$2,299
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$3,299
$3,300 and higher

Note: Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Change in renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2008-12 to 2018-22

-10,000-5,00005,00010,00015,000Change in Units FairfaxCountyRent level-1,990-10,56014,1506,2403,5403,010
$0-$1,099
$1,100-$1,799
$1,800-$2,199
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$3,299
$3,300 and higher

Note: Costs are in 2022 dollars. Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty46%

Note: Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Deeply Affordable Units

Estimated number of public housing units and vouchers relative to renter households with incomes below 30% of area median, 2018-22

020406080100Per 100 households FairfaxCounty20

Note: Estimated number of units and vouchers is for 2022. Vouchers include federally-funded Housing Choice Vouchers and locally-funded vouchers where information was available. Income is for 2018-22 and based on the 2022 HUD Income Limits by family size.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS); HUD Picture of Subsidized Households 2022; and HUD HCVP Power BI Dashboard

Need for Accessible Units

Number of households with one or more people with a disability by income level relative to the area median, 2018-22

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,000Households FairfaxCountyIncome level8,7305,0403,5609,5208,1605,580
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2022. People will a disability includes those with cognitive disabilities, physical or self-care disabilities, ambulatory disabilities, independent living difficulties, vision disabilities, or hearing disabilities.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Homeowner Housing Supply by Cost

Owner housing units by monthly housing cost for a first-time homebuyer, 2018-22

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty8%6%10%9%13%53%
$0-$1,799
$1,800-$2,299
$2,300-$2,799
$2,800-$2,799
$3,300-$3,799
$3,800 and higher

Note: Costs for owner housing were calculated as the monthly payment for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 90 percent of the market value to the unit, along with estimates of other monthly costs including mortgage insurance, taxes, utilities, and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Affordable Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations to households with moderate incomes and below, 2022

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent FairfaxCounty15%23%
0-80% of AMI
80-120% of AMI

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Potential Homebuyers

Number of potential homebuyers with low or moderate incomes by race and ethnicity, 2018-22

For renter households with a head of household age 45 years or younger and incomes between 50-120% of AMI

05,00010,00015,00020,000Households FairfaxCountyRace and ethnicity6,0005,6006,7001,90016,700
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2022. Renter households with a head of household under age 22 were excluded.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Elected Officials

  1. Bryan Hill

    Bryan Hill

    County Executive

  2. Jeffrey McKay
  3. Walter L. Alcorn

    Walter L. Alcorn

    Supervisor - Hunter Mill District

  4. James Bierman, Jr.

    James Bierman, Jr.

    Supervisor - Dranesville District

  5. Pat Herrity

    Pat Herrity

    Supervisor - Springfield District

  6. Andres Jimenez

    Andres Jimenez

    Supervisor - Mason District

  7. Rodney Lusk

    Rodney Lusk

    Supervisor - Franconia District

  8. Dalia Palchik

    Dalia Palchik

    Supervisor - Providence District

  9. Kathy Smith

    Kathy Smith

    Vice-Chairman, Supervisor - Sully District

  10. Daniel Storck

    Daniel Storck

    Supervisor - Mount Vernon District

  11. James R. Walkinshaw

    James R. Walkinshaw

    Supervisor - Braddock District

Equity Officer

  1. Michael Simms

    Acting Director, Office of Human and Equity Programs

Housing Officials

  1. Lenore Stanton

    Lenore Stanton

    Chairman, Redevelopment and Housing Authority

  2. Thomas E. Fleetwood

    Thomas E. Fleetwood

    Director, Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development