Fairfield

Population growth drivers in Fairfield are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Fairfield's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 19,197 people. This figure represents a growth of 949 individuals, marking an increase of 5.2% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 18,248. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,044 in June 2024 and an additional 119 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,538 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Fairfield's growth rate of 5.2% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the SA3 area at 2.2%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for Fairfield.

AreaSearch is utilizing ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase, with Fairfield expected to expand by 5,879 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording an overall gain of 29.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Fairfield recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Fairfield has averaged approximately 154 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 770 homes were approved, with an additional 25 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $271,000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $32.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield has 81.0% more new home approvals per person, providing ample choice for buyers. However, building activity has slowed in recent years, with 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% townhouses or apartments approved. This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This marks a significant change from the current housing mix of 39.0% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and evolving lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

Fairfield's population density is approximately 320 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 5,726 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Fairfield has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Fairfield Chase Shopping Centre Expansion, Fairfield Forum Redevelopment, Nelson Park, Fairfield Upgrade, and Fairfield West Public Preschool. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment drivers in Fairfield are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Fairfield has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 13.2% in June 2025, which is 9.0% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Fairfield lags significantly at 32.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence in Fairfield, with only 5.6% of employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.6%, and labour force increased by 4.8%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 2.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.6%, the labour force grow by 2.9%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Fairfield's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Fairfield's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $40,190. The average income stood at $48,729 during the same period. In comparison, Greater Sydney's median and average incomes were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Fairfield would be approximately $45,258 (median) and $54,874 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Fairfield fall between the 2nd and 7th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 29.5% of locals (5,663 people), with incomes in the $800 - 1,499 category, differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 73.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Fairfield features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Fairfield's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metro's composition of 73.3% houses and 26.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield stood at 21.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.3% and rented ones at 60.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Fairfield was $367, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Fairfield's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Fairfield has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, including 36.4% couples with children, 17.0% couples without children, and 18.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 23.2% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 3.2.

Fairfield faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 16.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational pathways account for 23.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 13.9%. Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.6% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 5.0% in tertiary education. Fairfield has a network of seven schools educating approximately 3,893 students. The area offers balanced education provision with four primary and three secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Fairfield has 67 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 55 routes that together facilitate 5,940 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 174 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 848 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 88 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Fairfield is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Fairfield exhibits above-average health outcomes with a lower prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages. However, this is not the case for older, at-risk cohorts where rates are higher.

Approximately 46% (~8,811 people) of Fairfield's total population has private health cover, which is significantly lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Fairfield are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 7.4% and 7.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 73.7% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 75.6% across Greater Sydney. The area has a relatively high proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 19.2% (3,691 people) falling into this age bracket.

Fairfield is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Fairfield has a high level of cultural diversity, with 70.4% of its population born overseas and 82.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield, making up 62.3%. Buddhism comprises 12.8%, lower than the Greater Sydney average of 21.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (49.8%), Vietnamese (10.6%), and Chinese (9.9%). Notably, Serbian (1.8%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average, while Spanish (1.1%) and Lebanese (1.8%) have similar representation to the region.

Fairfield's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Fairfield has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, Fairfield has an over-representation of the 65-74 age cohort (11.6% locally) and an under-representation of the 35-44 age group (11.8%). Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 12.6% to 14.4%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 9.9% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group declined from 11.8% to 10.7%, and the 35 to 44 age group dropped from 12.9% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects a significant shift in Fairfield's age profile, with the 75 to 84 age cohort expected to surge dramatically, increasing by 1,119 people (105%) from 1,069 to 2,189.