Fairfield - West

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

Fairfield-West's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 22,500. This figure represents a rise of 1,251 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 21,249. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 22,025 in June 2024 and an additional 62 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 4,797 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield-West among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. The growth rate of 5.9% since the 2021 Census exceeds the SA3 area's average of 4.4%, positioning Fairfield-West as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.7% to overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth in the area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the national median statistical area's average, expecting Fairfield-West to expand by approximately 1,097 persons by 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of about 2.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Fairfield - West among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Fairfield - West has recorded approximately 133 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 666 homes were approved, with an additional 56 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1.1 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand dynamic, supporting stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $230,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. In FY26, commercial development approvals totalled $914,000, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield - West has seen slightly higher development activity, with 34.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

However, building activity has slowed in recent years. New developments consist of an equal split between detached dwellings and medium to high-density housing (50.0% each). This shift from the current housing mix (76.0% houses) reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The area has approximately 211 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest Fairfield - West will gain 622 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Fairfield - West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that could affect the area. Notable ones include The Vale - Fairfield Heights (Stage 3), EVO Fairfield, Fairfield Heights Town Centre Public Domain Upgrades, and Fairfield Heights Residential Infill - 120-130 Stella Street. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Fairfield-West has a balanced workforce that includes both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 9.6% as of September 2025. This rate is 1.3 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 8.3%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.1%. As of September 2025, 7,511 residents are employed in Fairfield-West. However, workforce participation lags behind Greater Sydney, with a participation rate of 46.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. A significant proportion of residents work from home, with 26.4% doing so according to Census responses.

Leading employment industries among Fairfield-West residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share that is 2.2 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 5.7% of Fairfield-West's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels in Fairfield-West increased by 7.1%, while the labour force grew by 4.3%. This led to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 2.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% over the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that Fairfield-West's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years. These projections are based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific growth rates against Fairfield-West's current employment mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Fairfield - West SA2 has an income below the national average. The median income is $44,428 and the average income is $52,020. In comparison, Greater Sydney has a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,020. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Fairfield - West SA2 would be approximately $48,364 (median) and $56,629 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census shows individual incomes at the 1st percentile are $457 weekly, while household income is better at the 25th percentile. Distribution data indicates that 30.3% of individuals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band (6,817 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends across the region showing 30.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile.

Fairfield - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Fairfield - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 76.0% houses and 24.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield - West was at 31.4%, with the rest either mortgaged (27.1%) or rented (41.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,057, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairfield - West's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Fairfield - West features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 83.3% of all households, including 47.4% couples with children, 16.5% couples without children, and 17.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 16.7%, with lone person households at 15.0% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 3.4 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.5%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (0.7%). Vocational pathways account for 23.9% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 15.0%. Educational participation is high, with 34.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.7% in secondary education, 10.6% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairfield-West has 79 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 45 different routes that facilitate 1,717 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 87%, while train usage stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 245 trips per day, equating to approximately 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fairfield - West's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Fairfield - West. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be low, particularly among younger cohorts. Private health cover was found to be extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~10,305 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and diabetes, impacting 7.0% and 6.2% of residents respectively. 76.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,813 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Fairfield - West 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-West is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 63.2 percent of its population born overseas and 77.9 percent speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Fairfield-West is Christianity, comprising 65.5 percent of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 14.3 percent compared to the Greater Sydney average of 4.1 percent.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (44.8 percent), Vietnamese (14.2 percent), and Chinese (8.3 percent). These percentages are significantly higher than their respective regional averages: Other at 16.0 percent, Vietnamese at 1.8 percent, and Chinese at 5.7 percent. Additionally, Serbian (1.5 percent vs regional 0.5 percent), Croatian (1.4 percent vs regional 0.7 percent), and Spanish (0.9 percent vs regional 0.6 percent) are notably overrepresented in Fairfield-West's population.

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

Fairfield - West has a median age of 37, which matches Greater Sydney's figure and is comparable to Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 age group constitutes 16.9% of Fairfield - West's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort makes up 11.5%, which is lower compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 14.4% to 16.9%. During this period, the 45-54 cohort decreased from 12.8% to 11.6%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 14.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Fairfield - West's age structure. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 1,942 people from the current 1,332. This growth will be led by those aged 65 and above, who are expected to comprise 85% of Fairfield - West's population growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.