Fairfield is located in Fairfield County, Connecticut along the Long Isalnd Sound coastline. Fairfield is a town of many neighborhoods, such as Southport and Greenfield Hill. Southport has historic buildings and waterfront homes. Greenfield Hill boasts stately mansions and a rural atmosphere. In July 2006, Money Magazine ranked Fairfield the ninth "best place to live" in the United States, and the best place to live in the Northeast.

Fairfield's 56,000 residents enjoy a mix of suburban and urban neighborhoods with an average sale price of $786,000 for a 4 bedroom home.

Fairfield is home to Fairfield Universtiy and Sacred Heart Universtiy. The colleges and dining scene provide a sense of liveliness not found in many of the more staid, family-centered suburbs nearby.

Fairfield offers many recreational venues. Residents enjoy 7 beaches, 2 marinas, 27 openspace preserves, 10 tennis courts, 17 parks, 4 baseball fields, 2 football fields, and 6 soccer fields.

Downtown Fairfield offers boutiques, bike shops, big-box hardware stores, grocery and health-food stores just to name a few.

Public schools in Fairfield include Fairfield Warde High School, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Roger Ludlowe Middle School, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield Woods Middle School, and 11 elementary schools. Private schools include Fairfield College Preparatory School, Notre Dame High School, the Unquowa School, Fairfield Country Day School, Holy Family School, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.