Rents are 9% below what Fairfield's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,425 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Fairfield usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in July, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Fairfield is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Fairfield changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Fairfield rose 26.6% while median household income rose 20.5% ($84,557 to $101,895). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Fairfield is 28.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($101,895) is $2,547 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,065); a 2-bedroom is $2,635.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fairfield. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Fairfield, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 26.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fairfield, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Fairfield, CA has climbed from $2,008 to $2,425, a 20.8% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $92,625 to $101,895 across the same window, up 10.0% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 118,932 residents to roughly 120,785. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Fairfield, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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At $2,425/mo, how Fairfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fairfield rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fairfield. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fairfield
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fairfield is $2,425/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,875/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,635/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,065/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,530/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($101,895/yr), Fairfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fairfield?
At $2,425/mo, rent takes ~29% of Fairfield's median household income ($101,895/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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