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City · 9,938 residents · Fairfax County, Virginia

Difficult Run , Virginia

In Difficult Run, a typical home is worth $1,111,400 and typical rent is $3,066 a month. Compared with all of Fairfax County, typical household income is 63% higher, the typical home value is 52% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 29 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,111,400

    52% above the county

    190% above Virginia

    • Difficult Run
    • Fairfax
    • Virginia

  • Typical rent

    $3,066a month

    35% above the county

    94% above Virginia

    • Difficult Run
    • Fairfax
    • Virginia

  • Typical household income

    $250,001a year

    63% above the county

    168% above Virginia

    • Difficult Run
    • Fairfax
    • Virginia

  • Households that own their home

    98%

    29 points above the county

    30 points above Virginia

    • Difficult Run
    • Fairfax
    • Virginia

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

Difficult Run is in Fairfax County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Fairfax County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Difficult Run apart

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

  1. Difficult Run has the highest homeownership rate of the 158 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people: 98%.

  2. Difficult Run has the highest typical household income of the 160 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people: $250,001.

  3. Difficult Run has the 4th highest typical home value of the 157 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people ($1,111,400).

  4. Nearby, in Fair Oaks, the typical home value is $608,200: 45% less than in Difficult Run ($1,111,400).

  5. The typical rent in Difficult Run is $3,066 a month, 35% more than in Fairfax County as a whole ($2,276).

  6. Nearby, in Reston, the typical rent is $2,231: 27% less than in Difficult Run ($3,066).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Difficult Run

What homes there are in Difficult Run, 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

In Difficult Run, 10 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Fairfax County, 5.

Year built

In Difficult Run, half of the homes were built before 1982; in Fairfax County, before 1983.

Homes in Difficult Run are bigger: 99% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Fairfax County, 67%.

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

Without a mortgage

$1,366 a month

Fairfax County: $1,082 a month

Owners with a mortgage

76%

Fairfax County: 72%

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

Difficult Run does not have the same boundaries as in 2015–2019: that is why there is no change to compare. For reference, in Fairfax County the typical home value rose 30%.

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

MeasureDifficult RunFairfax CountyVirginiaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.4%4.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.2%2.1%3.4%
People per household 3.172.752.522.53
Drive alone 53%55%68%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate5%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 37%29%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 3.17 on average, against 2.75 in Fairfax County.

Working from home is more common in Difficult Run: 37%, against 29% in Fairfax 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 Difficult Run?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Difficult Run, worth $1,111,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Difficult Run, which is $250,001 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $401,125 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Difficult Run. 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 $38,899 (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

$9,360

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,091,270
Total interest
$1,570,081
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $18,769 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $5,833 a month

  • Tight

    $5,833 to $7,500 a month

  • Hard

    more than $7,500 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Difficult Run ($250,001 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$9,360
Principal & interest$7,393
Property tax$834
Home insurance$463
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$670

You need at least $38,899 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

Difficult Run and Fairfax County

Difficult Run is in Fairfax County, Virginia. 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).

Difficult Run's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,111,400
Typical monthly rent
$3,066
Typical yearly household income
$250,001
Households that own their home
98%
Effective property tax rate
0.9%

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

Numbers for all of Fairfax County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,438
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+35%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

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 Fairfax County.

Everything about Fairfax County

Buying

Buying a home in Difficult Run

A typical home in Difficult Run is worth $1,111,400: 52% above the county and 190% above Virginia. With the typical household income in Difficult Run ($250,001 a year), a typical home costs 4.4 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.

  • Difficult Run 4.4 years
  • Fairfax 4.8 years
  • Virginia 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Fairfax County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Fairfax County rose 55% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Virginia U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.1% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +35% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +55% +75% +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

Difficult Run next to Fairfax County, Virginia and the U.S.

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

Typical home value
  • Difficult Run $1,111,400
  • Fairfax $732,800
  • Virginia $383,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Difficult Run $3,066
  • Fairfax $2,276
  • Virginia $1,579
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Difficult Run $250,001
  • Fairfax $153,637
  • Virginia $93,170
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Difficult Run next to Fairfax County and Virginia
Measure Difficult Run Fairfax County Virginia U.S.
Typical home value $1,111,400 $732,800 $383,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $3,066 $2,276 $1,579 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $250,001 $153,637 $93,170 $80,734
Households that own their home 98% 69% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $7,368 $2,790 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.9% 1.01% 0.73% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Fairfax 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 Difficult Run

For a typical $1,111,400 home in Difficult Run, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Difficult Run's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $9,360a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $38,899
    Cash to close
    $72,241
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $670

  • Conventional, 5% down $8,977a month

    Down payment
    $55,570
    Cash to close
    $88,912
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $528

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $7,320a month

    Down payment
    $222,280
    Cash to close
    $255,622
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $8,347a month

    Down payment
    $166,710
    Cash to close
    $200,052
    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 Difficult Run and for Fairfax County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Difficult Run

0.9%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Difficult Run.

  • Difficult Run 0.9%
  • Fairfax 1.01%
  • Virginia 0.73%

What Virginia publishes Local exemption or deferral for people 65 and older or with disabilities (Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia))

Exemptions and deadlines in Virginia

Flood risk in Fairfax County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
3,414
Of those, with NFIP insurance
22%
County Virginia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 22% 100% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Difficult Run

Typical rent in Difficult Run is $3,066 a month: 35% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Fairfax County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,438 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $46.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Fairfax 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 $2,111 $40.60 $84,440
1 bedroom $2,204 $42.38 $88,160
2 bedrooms $2,438 $46.88 $97,520
3 bedrooms $3,107 $59.75 $124,280
4 bedrooms $3,658 $70.35 $146,320

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 Difficult Run

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Difficult Run has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,890 in 22124 to $2,920 in 20171.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Fairfax County ($2,438).

  • 20171 $2,920$3,720
  • 22124 $2,890$3,680

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Difficult Run 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Difficult Run

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 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Fairfax County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Difficult Run

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

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Virginia

  • Down Payment Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia state agency down payment grant that you do not repay; for first-time buyers, or any buyer in economic opportunity zones, with a Virginia Housing mortgage. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage of up to 5% of the price for the down payment (and part of the closing costs with a credit score of 680 or higher); for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Closing Cost Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing grant that you do not repay, of up to 2% of the price, for the closing costs of buyers with a Virginia Housing RD (Rural Development) or VA loan. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Difficult Run

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

  • Cornerstones, Inc.

    11150 Sunset Hills Rd Ste 210, Reston · 3 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (571) 323-9555

  • Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington

    7700 Little River Tpke Ste 406, Annandale · 9 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (703) 354-6345

  • Prince William County Virginia Cooperative Extension

    8033 Ashton Ave Ste 105, Manassas · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (703) 792-6287

Every agency in Fairfax County All counseling agencies in Virginia

Help in Spanish near Difficult Run

None 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 Difficult Run

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

  • Fairfax County Redevelopment & Hsg Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (703) 653-7130

All housing agencies in Virginia Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Fairfax County

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

Everything about Fairfax County Housing in Virginia
See 47 more cities in Fairfax County, with prices and rents

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

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Difficult Run, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Fairfax 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 Difficult Run.

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Difficult Run

Short answers with the numbers for Difficult Run and all of Fairfax 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 Difficult Run?

The typical home value in Difficult Run is $1,111,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Fairfax County it is $732,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Difficult Run?

Typical rent in Difficult Run is $3,066 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Fairfax County is $2,438.

What is the FHA loan limit in Difficult Run?

Difficult Run uses the FHA limit for all of Fairfax County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Difficult Run?

The typical homeowner in Difficult Run pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.9% of the home’s value; in Fairfax County, the rate is 1.01%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Fairfax County. 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).