Fairfield - Dutton Park

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

Fairfield - Dutton Park's population was 5,008 as of the 2021 Census. By Feb 2026, this had increased to around 5,456 people, reflecting a growth of 448 individuals (8.9%). This increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures: 5,449 in June 2024 and an additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 2,623 persons per square kilometer as of Feb 2026, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Fairfield - Dutton Park's growth rate of 8.9% since the census is within 0.4 percentage points of its SA3 area (9.3%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by just below the median of national statistical areas by 2041. The latest annual ERP population numbers indicate an expected increase of 783 persons from Feb 2026 to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 14.1% over the 17-year period.

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

Fairfield - Dutton Park has approved around 84 residential properties annually on average over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. In total, 420 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year arriving per new home over these five financial years was 0.6, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand and providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings during this period was $121,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $115.5 million, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fairfield - Dutton Park shows 127.0% higher construction activity per person as of recently, offering buyers greater choice. This high level of construction activity is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the area. Recent construction in Fairfield - Dutton Park comprises 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development that provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift is notable given that currently 53.0% of the area's housing consists of houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 1349 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield - Dutton Park reflects a highly mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 767 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Fairfield - Dutton Park has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 potential impact projects. Notable ones include Princess Alexandra Hospital Expansion, Cross River Rail, Cross River Rail - Dutton Park Station, and Coles Annerley Supermarket. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Fairfield - Dutton Park has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Fairfield - Dutton Park has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 4.9% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 0.8%. As of September 2025, 3,467 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.9% above Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is high at 76.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Census responses indicate that 25.9% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Construction is under-represented, at 4.6% compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.8%, and labour force increased by 0.8%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Fairfield - Dutton Park's employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The Fairfield - Dutton Park SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $56,549 and an average income of $71,191 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This was higher than the national average, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $62,153 (median) and $78,246 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Fairfield - Dutton Park cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 32.6% of locals (1,778 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the region where 33.3% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 30.7% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 17.0% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 67th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Fairfield - Dutton Park's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.2% houses and 46.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield - Dutton Park was at 19.6%, with the rest either mortgaged (28.2%) or rented (52.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, above Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Fairfield - Dutton Park was $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Fairfield - Dutton Park's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Fairfield - Dutton Park features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 57.8% of all households, including 23.4% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.2%, with lone person households at 29.0% and group households comprising 13.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Fairfield - Dutton Park shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Fairfield - Dutton Park is notably high, with 52.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the broader benchmarks of 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. The area's educational advantage is evident in its distribution of qualifications: Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Vocational pathways account for 21.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas comprising 8.2% and certificates making up 12.9%. Educational participation is notably high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 15.7% in tertiary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing primary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.7% in tertiary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing primary education.

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

Fairfield - Dutton Park has 51 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 94 routes, facilitating 9,648 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop. The area, being primarily residential, sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 60%, followed by bus at 11% and train at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 25.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,378 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 189 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Fairfield - Dutton Park is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Fairfield - Dutton Park shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 54% (~2,951 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (10.9%) and asthma (8.6%). About 72.0% of residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally average. The area has 10.0% of residents aged 65 and over (545 people), lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Senior health outcomes are notably strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Fairfield - Dutton Park was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Fairfield-Dutton Park's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 30.7% born overseas and 22.0% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 35.5%. Buddhism, however, was more prevalent at 3.5%, exceeding Greater Brisbane's average of 2.0%.

Top ancestry groups were English (24.5%), Australian (19.8%), and Other (11.6%). Notably, French (0.9% vs regional 0.5%), Welsh (0.8% vs 0.5%), and Russian (0.6% vs 0.3%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Fairfield-Dutton Park compared to the Greater Brisbane region.

Fairfield - Dutton Park hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Fairfield - Dutton Park's median age is 32 years, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fairfield - Dutton Park has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.4%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 14.5% to 15.8%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 23.3% to 21.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Fairfield - Dutton Park's age profile. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 217 people (34%) from 645 to 863 residents. Conversely, the 0-4 age cohort is expected to grow modestly by just 1 person (1%).