Living in the City of Fairfax: Old Town, George Mason and Its Own School Arrangement

Living in the City of Fairfax means being in a small, independent city with its own government and tax rate while sitting in the middle of Fairfax County. You get a walkable historic Old Town, a big university next door, a free local bus to the Orange Line, and a housing stock built mostly from the 1950s through the 1970s. For many buyers it’s a way to be close to Route 50, I-66 and Route 123 without paying inside-the-Beltway prices.

People often confuse the city with the county, and the difference matters when you own a home here. Below I’ll cover the practical details I go over with buyers who are considering the city.

City of Fairfax quick facts

Topic	What to know
Government	Independent city with its own mayor and council; not part of Fairfax County
Size	About 6.3 square miles
Real estate tax rate (FY2026)	$1.055 per $100 of assessed value, adopted May 2025
Major roads	Route 50 (Fairfax Boulevard), Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road), Route 236 (Main Street), I-66 just north
Metro	Vienna/Fairfax-GMU station (Orange Line), just north of the city line
Local bus	CUE, fare-free throughout the city
Schools	City-owned schools operated by FCPS under contract
Neighbors	Fairfax County surrounds it; Vienna, Oakton, Burke and Chantilly are nearby

Where it is and how it connects

The city sits about 15 miles west of downtown Washington, roughly halfway between Tysons and the Dulles corridor’s southern edge. I-66 runs just north, so most Metro and car commutes start there. The Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station is the western end of the Orange Line, with large commuter garages.

The city’s CUE bus is fare-free and links Old Town, residential neighborhoods, George Mason University and the Vienna Metro station. Fairfax Connector and Metrobus routes also run through the city. For commuters heading to Tysons, Route 123 is the direct path. I go deeper on rail-adjacent living in living near Metro in Northern Virginia.

Old Town Fairfax, George Mason and things to do

Old Town is the historic core around the intersection of Main Street and Chain Bridge Road, including the historic courthouse area. It’s compact and walkable, with restaurants, coffee shops, small retailers and Old Town Square, a public plaza with a splash fountain and event space.

• Historic sites: Historic Blenheim, a Civil War era house, and the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center tell the city’s story.
• Parks and trails: Daniels Run Park and Van Dyck Park are local favorites, and trail connections link toward the county’s larger network.
• Annual events: the city’s Independence Day celebration and parade, the Chocolate Lovers Festival in winter, and a fall festival in Old Town are long-running traditions.
• George Mason University: the main campus is just south of the city. EagleBank Arena and the Center for the Arts host concerts, sports and performances.
• Shopping and dining: Old Town, Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax Circle and nearby Fairfax Corner in the county offer a wide mix.

Housing stock: what you’ll find

Most of the city’s neighborhoods were built after World War II, so expect brick ramblers, split-levels, colonials and Cape Cods on lots that often run from a quarter acre to a third of an acre. Townhouse communities from the 1970s and 1980s fill in between, and redevelopment along Fairfax Boulevard and near Old Town has added newer townhomes, condos and apartments.

Home type	Typical era	What buyers notice
Ramblers and split-levels	1950s to 1960s	Single-level living options, room to expand, original systems to check
Colonials	1960s to 1980s	More bedrooms upstairs, larger lots in some sections
Townhouses	1970s to 2020s	Range from older HOA communities to new construction near corridors
Condos	Mixed	Smaller supply; check association finances and resale packets
New infill homes	2000s to today	Replacement homes on older lots, at a premium

Older houses here often need updated electrical panels, windows or HVAC. Budget for an inspection that looks closely at drainage, since many homes have basements. If you’re comparing the city with nearby county areas, my guides to Vienna and Burke and Springfield are good next reads.

Taxes and local government for owners

Because the city is independent, you pay City of Fairfax real estate tax, not Fairfax County real estate tax. City Council adopted a FY2026 rate of $1.055 per $100 of assessed value, along with a stormwater fee, per the city’s May 2025 budget announcement. The city handles its own assessments, trash collection, police and parks. Your mailing address may say Fairfax even if you’re actually in the county, so always check the tax record to confirm which jurisdiction a home is in.

How the city’s school arrangement works

This is the part most buyers ask about. The City of Fairfax owns its school buildings (Fairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School, and Daniels Run and Providence elementary schools) and pays Fairfax County Public Schools under a tuition contract to run them and educate city students. City of Fairfax Schools explains the arrangement, and FCPS handles day-to-day operations.

Assignment depends on the exact address, and some schools also serve county neighborhoods. Before you write an offer, verify the assigned schools with the FCPS Boundary Locator and confirm with the school system directly.

A worked example: city vs. county tax bill

These figures are illustrative only. On a home assessed at $700,000 inside the city, the FY2026 real estate tax at $1.055 per $100 would be about $7,385 a year, before the stormwater fee. Run the same math with the county’s adopted rate for a home just over the line, and you’ll see the difference is real but usually modest compared with price, condition and location. Always use the actual assessment, not the list price, when you compare.

Common mistakes buyers make here

• Assuming a Fairfax mailing address means the city. Check the tax record.
• Relying on a listing’s school information instead of the official boundary tool.
• Underestimating updates in 1950s and 1960s homes, especially electrical and drainage.
• Ignoring George Mason’s event and semester traffic on certain streets. Drive the route at different times.
• Skipping the condo or HOA resale packet review for townhouses and condos.

More on the region: my Fairfax County area page and the Northern Virginia relocation guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is the City of Fairfax part of Fairfax County?

No. It’s an independent city with its own government and tax rate, although it’s surrounded by Fairfax County and serves as the county seat.

Who runs the schools in the City of Fairfax?

The city owns its school buildings and contracts with Fairfax County Public Schools to operate them and educate city students. Verify any address with the FCPS Boundary Locator.

Is there a Metro station in the City of Fairfax?

The nearest is the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU station on the Orange Line, just north of the city. The fare-free CUE bus connects it to neighborhoods and Old Town.

What is the real estate tax rate in the City of Fairfax?

The FY2026 rate adopted in May 2025 is $1.055 per $100 of assessed value, plus a separate stormwater fee.