In Fairfield, a typical home is worth $156,000 and typical rent is $870 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, typical household income is 17% lower and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $132,089 to $156,855.
From Zillow (ZHVI), 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
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Fort Madison, the typical home value is $94,200: 40% less than in Fairfield ($156,000).
2
Fairfield has the 6th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 81 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people (57%).
3
The typical household income in Fairfield is $51,311,17% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($61,620).
4
Fairfield has the 7th lowest homeownership rate of the 86 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people (60%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
67%
74%
72%
61%
Attached house
5%
4%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
15%
11%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
6%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Fairfield, but it weighs less than in Jefferson County: 67% against 74%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
46%
44%
38%
26%
1960–1979
23%
20%
24%
24%
1980–1999
21%
20%
17%
25%
2000–2009
4%
7%
11%
14%
2010 or later
6%
8%
11%
11%
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitCould be either sideUnreliable estimate
Under $100K31%
$100K–$200K39%
$200K–$300K16%
$300K–$500K13%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Under $100K
31%
$100K–$200K
39%
$200K–$300K
16%
$300K–$500K
13%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
The FHA limit for Jefferson County is high ($541,287): at least 100% of owner-occupied homes in Fairfield are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99961%
$1,000–$1,49930%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
61%
$1,000–$1,499
30%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,385 a month
Jefferson County: $1,380 a month
Without a mortgage
$597 a month
Jefferson County: $593 a month
Owners with a mortgage
43%
Jefferson County: 45%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Fairfield is $1,385 a month, near the figure in Jefferson County ($1,380).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Fairfield+37%
Jefferson County+38%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Fairfield+28%
Jefferson County+29%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
FairfieldNo clear change
Jefferson County+29%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+37%
+38%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+28%
+29%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+29%
+24%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Fairfield rose at about the same pace as in Jefferson County: 37% against 38%.
Much as in Jefferson County, the typical rent in Fairfield rose 28% since 2015–2019.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Fairfield and its comparisons
Measure
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.05
2.11
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
60%
70%
76%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
4%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
7%
5%
3%
3%
Work from home
25%
18%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
A household in Fairfield has 2.05 people on average, about the same as in Jefferson County (2.11).
Working from home is more common in Fairfield: 25%, against 18% in Jefferson County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Fairfield?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Fairfield, worth $156,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Fairfield, which is $51,311 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $59,629 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Fairfield. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $5,460 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,391
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$153,174
Total interest
$220,382
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,634 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,197 a month
Tight
$1,197 to $1,539 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $1,539 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Fairfield ($51,311 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,038
Property tax
$220
Home insurance
$65
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$69
You need at least $5,460 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $1,391; principal and interest $1,038.
The city and its county
Fairfield and Jefferson County
Fairfield is in Jefferson County, Iowa. 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
Map of Jefferson County, Iowa, with Fairfield marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Fairfield's own numbers
Typical home value
$156,000
Typical monthly rent
$870
Typical yearly household income
$51,311
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
1.69%
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
$1,096
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%
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.
A typical home in Fairfield is worth $156,000: 5% below the county and 25% below Iowa. With the typical household income in Fairfield ($51,311 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 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.
Fairfield3.0 years
Jefferson2.7 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 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 53% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −1.3% −1.3% 2016
2017: +7.5% +7.5% 2017
2018: −1.2% −1.2% 2018
2019: +6.3% +6.3% 2019
2020: −1.8% −1.8% 2020
2021: +12.4% +12.4% 2021
2022: +9.4% +9.4% 2022
2023: −0.6% −0.6% 2023
2024: +14.0% +14.0% 2024
2025: +0.3% +0.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.3%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+40%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+53%
+65%
+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, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Fairfield$156,000
Jefferson$163,400
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Fairfield$870
Jefferson$883
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Fairfield$51,311
Jefferson$61,620
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Fairfield next to Jefferson County and Iowa
Measure
Fairfield
Jefferson County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$156,000 ▼5% below the county
$163,400
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$870
$883
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$51,311 ▼17% below the county
$61,620
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
60% ▼8 points below the county
68%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,642 ▲14% above the county
$2,311
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.69% ▲0.28 points above the county
1.41%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
57% ▲6 points above the county
51%
44%
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 $156,000 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$1,391a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,460
Cash to close
$10,140
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $69
Conventional, 5% down$1,363a month
Down payment
$7,800
Cash to close
$12,480
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $74
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,130a month
Down payment
$31,200
Cash to close
$35,880
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,274a month
Down payment
$23,400
Cash to close
$28,080
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fairfield
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,391
$5,460
$153,174
7.18%
FHA MIP · $69
$10,140
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,363
$7,800
$148,200
7.18%
PMI · $74
$12,480
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,130
$31,200
$124,800
7.18%
None
$35,880
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,274
$23,400
$132,600
8.18%
None
$28,080
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Fairfield is $870 a month: about the same as the county. In Fairfield, 57% 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 ($1,096 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.08 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Jefferson County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$832
$16.00
$33,280
1 bedroom
$838
$16.12
$33,520
2 bedrooms
$1,096
$21.08
$43,840
3 bedrooms
$1,306
$25.12
$52,240
4 bedrooms
$1,440
$27.69
$57,600
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 has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,100 in all of them.
2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,096).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Fairfield, fiscal year 2027.
52556
$840
$840
$1,100
$1,310
$1,450
52557
$840
$840
$1,100
$1,310
$1,450
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
52556 $1,100$1,310
52557 $1,100$1,310
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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fairfield. These are the largest.
Logan Apartments404 S 4th St, Fairfield 5255648 low-income homes · For older adults(641) 472-2544
Calu Apartments205 W Briggs Ave, Fairfield 5255641 low-income homes · For older adults(641) 472-3140
Wagon Wheel Senior Housing208 S Court St, Fairfield 5255633 low-income homes · Studio: 33 · In service since 1999 · For older adults
North Bay210 E Pierce Ave, Fairfield 5255624 low-income homes · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 2020 · For families(515) 472-2133
Fairfield Park I Apartments904 W Harrison Ave, Fairfield 5255624 homes, 20 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2015 · For people with disabilities, families
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.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fairfield or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Fairfield the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Fairfield or Jefferson County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
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 $156,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $163,400.
How much does it cost to rent in Fairfield?
Typical rent in Fairfield is $870 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,096.
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 $2,642 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.69% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 1.41%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fairfield?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
