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City · 9,728 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Fairfield , Alabama

In Fairfield, a typical home is worth $129,300 and typical rent is $1,008 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 46% lower and typical household income is 27% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $129,300

    46% below the county

    38% below Alabama

    • Fairfield
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,008a month

    16% below the county

    About the same as Alabama

    • Fairfield
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $48,456a year

    27% below the county

    24% below Alabama

    • Fairfield
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    5 points below the county

    11 points below Alabama

    • Fairfield
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$93,223
2.1% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,177 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Fairfield is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Fairfield apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Fairfield has the largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 101 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people: 72%.

  2. The typical home in Fairfield is worth $129,300, 46% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($240,000).

  3. The typical household income in Fairfield is $48,456, 27% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($66,388).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Fairfield fell 2.1%; in Alabama, it rose 1.9%.

  5. Nearby, in Midfield, the typical home value is $107,600: 17% less than in Fairfield ($129,300).

  6. The typical rent in Fairfield is $1,008 a month, 16% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($1,193).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Fairfield

What homes there are in Fairfield, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Fairfield: 75% of homes, more than in Jefferson County (69%).

Year built

In Fairfield, half of the homes were built before 1963; in Jefferson County, before 1975.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a HUD fair market rent of $1,375 for 2 bedrooms, at least 50% of rented homes in Fairfield sit below it.

With a mortgage

$1,192 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Without a mortgage

$487 a month

Jefferson County: $533 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Jefferson County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Fairfield is $1,192 a month, less than in Jefferson County ($1,619); without one, $487.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Fairfield gained value more slowly than in Jefferson County: 31% since 2015–2019, against 51%.

The typical rent in Fairfield stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureFairfieldJefferson CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy 12.9%7.0%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.382.402.482.53
Drive alone 65%77%81%69%
Carpool 21%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Fairfield, the rental vacancy rate is 12.9%; in Jefferson County, 7.0%.

By size, households in Fairfield look like those in Jefferson County: 2.38 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Fairfield: 21% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Jefferson County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Fairfield?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Fairfield, worth $129,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 26% of the typical household income in Fairfield, which is $48,456 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Fairfield. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,526 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,065

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$126,958
Total interest
$182,662
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,184 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,131 a month

    Your payment · 26%

  • Tight

    $1,131 to $1,454 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,454 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Fairfield ($48,456 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,065
Principal & interest$860
Property tax$94
Home insurance$54
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$57

You need at least $4,526 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Fairfield and Jefferson County

Fairfield is in Jefferson County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Fairfield's own numbers

Typical home value
$129,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,008
Typical yearly household income
$48,456
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
0.87%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,375
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Fairfield

A typical home in Fairfield is worth $129,300: 46% below the county and 38% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Fairfield ($48,456 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Fairfield 2.7 years
  • Jefferson 3.6 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Fairfield next to Jefferson County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Fairfield $129,300
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fairfield $1,008
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fairfield $48,456
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fairfield next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Fairfield Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $129,300 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,008 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $48,456 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,125 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.87% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 72% 54% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fairfield

For a typical $129,300 home in Fairfield, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fairfield's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,065a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,526
    Cash to close
    $8,405
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $57

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,041a month

    Down payment
    $6,465
    Cash to close
    $10,344
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $61

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $848a month

    Down payment
    $25,860
    Cash to close
    $29,739
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $968a month

    Down payment
    $19,395
    Cash to close
    $23,274
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Fairfield and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fairfield

0.87%of the home’s value each year

$1,125 a year for the typical owner in Fairfield.

  • Fairfield 0.87%
  • Jefferson 0.59%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
5,592
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Fairfield

Typical rent in Fairfield is $1,008 a month: 16% below the county. In Fairfield, 72% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,375 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
1 bedroom $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
2 bedrooms $1,375 $26.44 $55,000
3 bedrooms $1,727 $33.21 $69,080
4 bedrooms $1,941 $37.33 $77,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fairfield

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fairfield is in ZIP code 35064.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,320: $55 less than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

  • 35064 $1,320$1,660

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fairfield when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fairfield

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fairfield. These are the largest.

  • Mattie G. Jackson Gardens 6819 Terrace Ct, Fairfield 35064 196 low-income homes · Run by Fairfield Housing Authority · Average payment: $371 a month · Average wait: 23 months · Homes at several sites (205) 923-8017
  • Demetrius C. Newton Gardens 726 55th Pl, Fairfield 35064 102 low-income homes · Run by Fairfield Housing Authority · Average payment: $353 a month · Average wait: 14 months (205) 923-8017
  • W. Clyde Williams Terrace 6301 Myron Massey Blvd, Fairfield 35064 100 low-income homes · For older adults (205) 925-2153

See all 128 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fairfield

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fairfield

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fairfield or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Fairfield the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Fairfield

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fairfield, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama

    200 6th Ave SW, Birmingham · 5 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (205) 942-5505

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Birmingham, AL

    529 Beacon Pkwy W Ste 204, Birmingham · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (205) 942-8111

  • Birmingham Urban League, Inc.

    1229 3rd Ave N, Birmingham · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (205) 326-0162

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Fairfield

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Fairfield

HUD’s record names them for Fairfield or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Fairfield Housing Authority Public housing (205) 923-8017
  • Jefferson County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 849-0123

4 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Alabama
See 9 more cities in Jefferson County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Fairfield, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Fairfield.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Fairfield

Short answers with the numbers for Fairfield and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Fairfield?

The typical home value in Fairfield is $129,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $240,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Fairfield?

Typical rent in Fairfield is $1,008 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,375.

What is the FHA loan limit in Fairfield?

Fairfield uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Fairfield?

The typical homeowner in Fairfield pays $1,125 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.87% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fairfield?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).