Last updated: July 8, 2026

Of all the mailing-address traps in Northern Virginia, this one confuses buyers the most, because the city and the county share a name, share a school operator, and share ZIP code 22030. Two houses a half mile apart on the same road can pay taxes to two different governments. Here is how to tell them apart and what actually differs when you buy.

Wait, Fairfax is a city AND a county?

Yes. Virginia’s independent-city system strikes again. The City of Fairfax became an independent city in 1961. It is about six square miles, home to roughly 25,000 people, and it sits entirely inside the footprint of Fairfax County like the hole in a donut, while being legally separate from it. Fairfax County, with about 1.1 million residents, wraps around it on every side.

The mailing addresses do not respect the boundary:

• ZIP 22030: covers the City of Fairfax AND county neighborhoods west and south of the city limits. This is the split ZIP that causes most of the confusion.
• ZIP 22031: Fairfax County (the Mantua area and toward Merrifield).
• ZIP 22032: Fairfax County (Kings Park West and the Woodson High School area).
• ZIP 22033: Fairfax County (Fair Oaks, Fair Lakes, Franklin Farm, and Penderbrook).

For any home with a Fairfax address, the tax record settles it: every Virginia property pays taxes to exactly one jurisdiction. Your agent can confirm it from the MLS in seconds. I do this on every Fairfax listing my clients consider.

Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County: what buyers should compare

Factor	City of Fairfax	Fairfax County (Fairfax address)
Real estate tax rate	$1.0725 per $100 of assessed value (FY 2027)	$1.12 per $100 of assessed value (FY 2027)
Schools	City-owned schools (Fairfax HS, Katherine Johnson MS, Daniels Run ES, Providence ES) operated by FCPS under a tuition contract	Fairfax County Public Schools; pyramids include Fairfax, Woodson, Oakton, Chantilly, and Robinson depending on location
Services	Own police department, own trash and leaf collection, city parks and events	County police and services; trash typically via private hauler or district
Housing stock	Established mid-century neighborhoods, downtown-adjacent homes, small-town scale	Everything from 1960s colonials to 1990s planned communities like Franklin Farm and Penderbrook
Feel	Small-town center with Old Town Fairfax, festivals, and a walkable downtown core	Classic Northern Virginia suburbia with major retail hubs at Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes

Tax rates change annually when each jurisdiction adopts its budget. Confirm current rates before writing an offer.

The tax math currently favors the city

On an $800,000 home, the City of Fairfax rate of $1.0725 per $100 works out to about $8,580 per year, versus about $8,960 at Fairfax County’s $1.12 rate. That is roughly $380 per year in the city’s favor. Worth knowing: the city raised several other taxes and utility rates in its FY 2027 budget, and both jurisdictions adjust rates every year, so treat the gap as a snapshot, not a permanent advantage.

The school arrangement is unusual, and it matters

City of Fairfax students attend schools inside the city (Fairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School, and Daniels Run and Providence elementary schools) that the city owns but Fairfax County Public Schools operates under a tuition contract. In practice, city kids get the same FCPS curriculum, calendar, and programs as their county neighbors. Some county-side homes with Fairfax addresses also feed Fairfax High School, while others feed Woodson, Oakton, Chantilly, or Robinson. If a specific school matters to you, verify the assignment for the exact address with FCPS rather than assuming from the mailing address.

Living in the City of Fairfax

The city trades on small-town character: Old Town Fairfax’s shops and restaurants, the Chocolate Lovers Festival, Independence Day fireworks, its own police force, and city crews that pick up your trash and leaves. Neighborhoods are established and mostly mid-century, with mature trees and a genuine community identity. George Mason University sits just across the southern boundary, which adds energy, dining, and some rental demand.

The county side: Fair Oaks, Franklin Farm, Penderbrook, Fairfax Villa, and more

County homes with a Fairfax address cover a much larger area and a wider range of options: 1960s and 70s single-family neighborhoods like Fairfax Villa and Mantua, the Woodson pyramid’s Kings Park West, and the newer planned communities out toward Fair Oaks, including Franklin Farm and Penderbrook. Shopping and commuting infrastructure (Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax County Parkway, I-66, and Routes 50 and 29) anchor the area. I have sold homes in county-side Fairfax communities including Penderbrook and Fairfax Villa, and buyers are consistently drawn to the same combination: central location, established neighborhoods, and strong resale demand.

So which Fairfax should you buy in?

• Choose the City of Fairfax if you want small-town services and identity, a slightly lower tax rate right now, and a walkable downtown, and you are comfortable with a smaller pool of homes for sale at any given time.
• Choose the Fairfax County side if you want maximum choice in neighborhoods, price points, and school pyramids, from mid-century colonials to 1990s planned communities.

Either way, the first step is the same: confirm exactly which jurisdiction the home is in and what that means for taxes and schools. I do that for every client, usually before we ever tour. Call or text me at 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.

Thinking of selling? See my Fairfax home seller’s guide or my Fairfax County home seller’s guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fairfax, VA a city or a county?

Both exist. The City of Fairfax is an independent city of about six square miles that is legally separate from Fairfax County, even though the county surrounds it completely. A “Fairfax, VA” mailing address can belong to either one, so check the specific property’s jurisdiction.

Is the City of Fairfax part of Fairfax County?

No. Under Virginia’s independent-city system, the City of Fairfax has been separate from Fairfax County since 1961, with its own government, police, tax rates, and services. The county surrounds the city geographically but has no authority within it.

Which Fairfax ZIP codes are in the city vs. the county?

ZIP 22030 is split: it covers the City of Fairfax plus county areas west and south of the city limits. ZIPs 22031, 22032, and 22033 are Fairfax County. The property tax record is the definitive answer for any specific address.

Do City of Fairfax kids attend Fairfax County schools?

Effectively, yes. The city owns its four school buildings, including Fairfax High School, but Fairfax County Public Schools operates them under a tuition contract, so city students get the same FCPS curriculum and programs. Some county-side Fairfax addresses also feed Fairfax High School; others feed Woodson, Oakton, Chantilly, or Robinson.

Are property taxes lower in the City of Fairfax or Fairfax County?

Currently the city is lower: $1.0725 per $100 of assessed value (FY 2027) versus $1.12 in Fairfax County, about $380 per year less on an $800,000 home. Both rates change with each annual budget, and the city adjusted several other taxes and fees upward in FY 2027, so compare total costs, not just the headline rate.

David Mount is a REALTOR® with The Redux Group at eXp Realty, based minutes from Fairfax in Centreville and serving all of Northern Virginia. Questions about a specific address? Call 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.