Fairfax is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,250 at the 2020 census. Minnesota State Highways 4 and 19 are two of the main arterial routes in the city. Fort Ridgely State Park is nearby.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code55332

Area code507

Living in Fairfax

Housing in Fairfax

$184K▲ 8.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Fairfax home is worth about $184,000, up 8.1% in a year, 48% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Fairfax

A⁺

Safety Grade A+

Fairfax reports less crime per resident than 95% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Fairfax 0.8

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Fairfax 1.7

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Fairfax

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Fairfax for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are New Ulm (8%), Franklin (7%) and Redwood Falls (6%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

New Ulm

Franklin

Redwood Falls

Olivia

8%Work in townlive and work in Fairfax 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 189Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Fairfax →

Health in Fairfax

Health Grade C

Healthier than 27% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 42% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

79.9%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 11.6%More uninsured adultsMN 7.5% · worse

Care nearby

Sleepy Eye Medical CenterSleepy Eye · 15.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 44.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Fairfax · CMS · HRSAHealth in Fairfax →

Natural hazards in Fairfax

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 24% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Fairfax flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Fairfax MapFairfax vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Fairfax →

Climate in Fairfax

Full climate →

Fairfax has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 9°Winter

55° / 35°Spring

80° / 59°Summer

58° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Fairfax get?About 38 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 4, with the last in spring around Apr 30.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Fairfax →

Schools in Fairfax

All Fairfax schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Fairfax’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 54% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

Schools1

Praire Lutheran School Upper SiteElementary · Grades PK–8 · 78 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.