Fairfield - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Fairfield-West's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 22,072. This figure represents an increase of 823 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,249. The change was inferred from ABS estimates: 22,025 in June 2024 and an additional 57 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,706 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield-West among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, highlighting its land's high demand. The area's population growth of 3.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA3 area's 2.0%, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.7% of Fairfield-West's recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year. These projections are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Fairfield-West is projected to increase by approximately 1,097 persons based on the latest population numbers, representing a total gain of 4.8% over the 17-year period. This expected growth is just below the national median for statistical areas.

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

Fairfield - West has recorded approximately 130 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 650 homes approved over the past five financial years (FY-20 to FY-25), and an additional 25 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 1.1 new residents per year have been associated with each dwelling constructed during these five financial years. This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions.

The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $321,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $914,000 have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield - West has shown slightly higher development activity, with 40.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance of supply and demand supports both buyer choice and current property values. The new development consists of an equal split between detached dwellings (50.0%) and medium to high-density housing (50.0%).

This shift towards higher-density living creates more affordable entry points, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (76.0%), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has an approximate population density of 211 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Population forecasts suggest Fairfield - West will gain approximately 1,050 residents by the year 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply is expected to meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that may exceed current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include EVO Fairfield, Fairfield Showground Community and Events Centre, Endeavour Sports Park Upgrade, and Fairfield Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Fairfield-West has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs. The manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 9.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.7%. There are 7,491 residents currently employed, but the unemployment rate is higher than Greater Sydney's by 5.7 percentage points. Workforce participation in Fairfield-West lags behind Greater Sydney at 36.1% compared to 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

The area specializes in manufacturing, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 5.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.7%, while labour force grew by 4.9%, causing a reduction in unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% during the same period, with unemployment rising slightly to 4.3%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is favourable compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairfield-West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that in Fairfield - West, median income is $40,190 and average income is $48,729. This is below national averages of $56,994 (median) and $80,856 (average) for Greater Sydney. Using a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.6% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $44,450 (median) and $53,894 (average). The 2021 Census reports individual incomes at the 2nd percentile ($457 weekly), while household income is at the 26th percentile. Income distribution shows that 30.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (6,687 individuals). 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 a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Fairfield-West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.0% houses and 24.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Sydney metro's 73.3% houses and 26.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield-West was at 31.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 41.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,057, above Sydney metro's average of $2,000. Weekly rent median was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Fairfield-West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $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% who are couples with children, 16.5% who are couples without children, and 17.7% who are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 16.7%, with lone person households at 15.0% and group households comprising 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 3.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 3.2.

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. Fairfield - West has three schools with a combined enrollment of 3,364 students. Educational provision is conventional, divided between one primary and two secondary institutions.

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

77 active transport stops operate within Fairfield - West. These are served by buses via 44 routes, totalling 1,724 weekly passenger trips. Residents' accessibility to transport is excellent, with an average distance of 185 metres to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 246 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 22 weekly trips per stop.

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

Fairfield-West demonstrates health outcomes that exceed averages, with low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population but closer to national averages for older cohorts at risk. Private health cover is extremely low here, at approximately 46% (around 10,131 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 7.0% and 6.2% of residents respectively. About 76.0% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 75.6%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 19.0%. However, health outcomes for seniors require more attention than those for 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 63.2% of its population born overseas and 77.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield-West, accounting for 65.5% of the population, which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 21.7%. Buddhism makes up 14.3% of Fairfield-West's population, compared to the regional average of 21.7%.

The top three ancestry groups in Fairfield-West are Other (44.8%), Vietnamese (14.2%), and Chinese (8.3%). Notably, Serbian (1.5%) and Croatian (1.4%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Fairfield-West compared to regional averages of 1.8% and 1.7%, respectively. Spanish ethnicity is also slightly overrepresented at 0.9%.

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

Fairfield-West has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure, and is comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group comprises 16.6%, higher than Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 12.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 14.4% to 16.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.8% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Fairfield-West's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 52%, reaching 1,942 from 1,280. Those aged 65 and above will comprise 75% of the projected population growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decline in population.