Fairfield East

Fairfield East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Fairfield East is around 5,472, reflecting an increase of 274 people since the 2021 Census. This growth corresponds to a 5.3% rise from the previous population count of 5,198. The change was inferred by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 31 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 2,749 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield East in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 5.3% growth since census is within 2.5 percentage points of the state (7.8%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch adopts 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 utilises 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 years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is forecasted to experience a significant population increase, with an expected growth of 1,905 persons, reflecting a gain of 33.0% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Fairfield East, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Fairfield East has averaged approximately 22 new home approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 111 homes. As of FY-26, 41 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other regions.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is around $302,000, aligning with regional trends. In FY-26, $6.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Fairfield East's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield East records approximately 59% of the building activity per person.

Nationally, it places around the 46th percentile of assessed areas, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while increasing demand for established dwellings. New development consists of 76.0% detached dwellings and 24.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving Fairfield East's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. With approximately 355 people per approval, the area indicates a mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Fairfield East is projected to gain around 1,805 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to meet population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

AreaSearch has identified 15 projects that could impact the local area. Key projects include the Villawood East Masterplan Precinct for Lansvale & Lansdowne, the Villawood Town Centre Redevelopment at Kinara Place, the Fairfield Central Transformation (formerly known as Fairfield Chase), and The Foundry Villawood.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Fairfield East face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Fairfield East has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 15.8%. This rate has remained relatively stable over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

Compared to Greater Sydney's unemployment rate of 4.2%, Fairfield East's rate is 11.6% higher, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Fairfield East lags behind Greater Sydney, at 49.8% compared to 70.0%. A significant portion of residents, 26.1%, work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services have a limited presence, with only 6.4% employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by the count of Census working population to local population. Over the past year, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force grew by 3.5%, resulting in a rise in unemployment by 2.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by only 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Fairfield East. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Fairfield East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though it's important to note that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest data for postcode level ATO incomes in financial year 2023 shows that Fairfield East had a median income of $38,069 and an average income of $46,162. This is lower than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $41,442 (median) and $50,252 (average), based on an 8.86% growth from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data indicates that incomes in Fairfield East fall within the 1st to 14th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The most common income bracket in Fairfield East is $1,500 - 2,999, comprising 27.5% of locals (1,504 people), which is similar to the surrounding region's 30.9%. Income pressures are severe due to housing affordability issues, with only 78.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Fairfield East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Fairfield East, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted on 28 August 2016, comprised 71.2% houses and 28.9% other dwellings including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield East was at 26.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.4% and rented dwellings at 46.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,900, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Fairfield East was recorded at $300, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairfield East's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 75.6% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 17.3% couples without children, and 18.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.4%, with lone person households at 21.3% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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 18.2%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 39.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 14.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational pathways account for 24.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above - advanced diplomas make up 9.0% while certificates are 15.8%. Educational participation is high, with 34.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes secondary education (11.0%), primary education (10.6%), and tertiary education (6.7%).

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

Fairfield East has 55 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 16 different routes that together facilitate 787 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 112 meters from the nearest transport stop. Most residents commute outwards due to Fairfield East being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, while train usage stands at 7%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 26.1%, work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 112 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Fairfield East are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Fairfield East. AreaSearch's assessment shows mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Only approximately 45% (~2,477 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes (6.8%) and arthritis (6.3%), with 73.4% reporting no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Under-65 residents have better health outcomes. There are 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (853 people), with senior health outcomes presenting some challenges but ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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 has a population where 57.1% were born overseas, with 77.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield East, making up 39.1% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's average, comprising 21.2% of Fairfield East's population.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 27.0%, followed by Vietnamese (22.9%) and Chinese (11.6%), all higher than regional averages. Other ethnic groups with notable representation include Lebanese (7.5%), Spanish (0.9%), and Samoan (0.9%).

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

Fairfield East has a median age of 37, which is equal to Greater Sydney's figure and comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 17.0% of Fairfield East's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort makes up 12.0%, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and the present time, the 15-24 age group has increased from 14.6% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 2.4% to 1.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Fairfield East's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 group is expected to grow by 43%, reaching 1,020 people from its current figure of 711.