Fairfield - East

Population growth drivers in Fairfield - East are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Fairfield - East's population is approximately 16,414 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 672 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,742. The growth can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,405 in June 2025 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,874 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield - East in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 4.3% growth since the census is within 2.8 percentage points of the state's 7.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 85.3% of overall population gains during recent periods in Fairfield - East.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs 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 in Fairfield - East's top quartile national statistical area, with an expected expansion of 5,570 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 33.9% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Fairfield - East according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Fairfield - East has received approximately 59 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totaling 297 homes. In FY-26 so far, 164 approvals have been recorded. Despite a decline in population during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population changes, benefiting buyers with new homes averaging $201,000, below regional norms and offering more affordable housing options. This financial year has seen $19.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield - East has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per capita, placing it among the 46th percentile nationally, which may limit buyer choices and support interest in existing homes. New building activity comprises 75% detached houses and 25% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban character while attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 373 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield - East exhibits a developed market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Fairfield - East is projected to gain 5,561 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and driving price increases.

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

Twenty-nine projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Villawood East Masterplan Precinct (Lansvale & Lansdowne), Villawood Town Centre Redevelopment (Kinara Place), Fairfield Central Transformation (Former Fairfield Chase), and Chester Square Redevelopment.

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

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

Fairfield - East has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 15.2% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 4.3%.

As of December 2025, 5,636 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 11.1%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags behind Greater Sydney at 49.8% compared to 68.8%. A high proportion of residents work from home, with 26.7% doing so according to Census responses. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence at 5.8%, compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 4.3% while labour force grew by 4.2%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 11.1%. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%, labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising marginally to 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairfield - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in Fairfield - East SA2 was $43,488 and the average was $50,985 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average of $60,817 median income and $83,003 average income in Greater Sydney. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Fairfield - East SA2 would be approximately $47,976 median income and $56,247 average income as of March 2026. Census data shows that incomes in Fairfield - East SA2 fall between the 2nd and 12th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 27.6% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly, with 4,530 residents falling into this category, similar to the surrounding region where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Fairfield - East SA2, with only 78.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Fairfield - East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Fairfield - East's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 64.9% houses and 35.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield - East stood at 25.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,850, below the Sydney metro average of $2,427. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairfield - East's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.8% of all households, including 36.4% couples with children, 16.2% couples without children, and 16.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.2%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.7%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 39.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 27.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 17.5%. Educational participation is high, with 35.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in primary education, 10.1% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairfield - East has 135 active public transport stops operating, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 45 individual routes, collectively providing 6,302 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 139 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 82%, while train accounts for 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 26.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 900 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 46 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Fairfield - East is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges for Fairfield - East. AreaSearch's assessment shows notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~7,566 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 6.7% and 6.7% of residents respectively. 73.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 16.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,657 people). Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with rankings broadly in line with the general population nationally.

Fairfield - East 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-East, one of Australia's most culturally diverse areas, has 54.9% of its population born overseas and 74.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield-East, comprising 38.8% of people. Buddhism, however, is notably overrepresented at 15.7%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 4.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (27.7%), Vietnamese (16.9%), and Lebanese (12.7%), all substantially higher than regional averages. Spanish (0.9%), Samoan (1.0%), and Chinese (9.9%) ethnicities also show notable overrepresentation compared to regional averages of 0.6%, 0.5%, and 8.4% respectively.

Fairfield - East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Fairfield-East has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 age group constitutes 16.4% of Fairfield-East's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort makes up 11.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 14.0% to 16.4%, while the 85+ cohort has decreased from 3.0% to 1.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Fairfield-East's age structure. Notably, the 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 37%, adding 871 people and reaching a total of 3,217 from its current figure of 2,345.