Fairfield Heights

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Fairfield Heights' population is estimated at around 8,895 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 626 people (7.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,269 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 8,734, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 34 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,051 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Fairfield Heights' 7.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 4.4%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the suburb expected to expand by 450 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 1.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Fairfield Heights when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis indicates Fairfield Heights received around 76 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 384 homes. As of FY26, 29 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25. This suggests new construction is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction value per property is $321,000. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $668,000, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield Heights has 99.0% more new home approvals per person. Building activity shows 48.0% detached houses and 52.0% medium and high-density housing. With around 179 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield Heights exhibits growth area characteristics.

AreaSearch projects the area will grow by 133 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

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

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

Fairfield Heights has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs, notably in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 12.3% as of September 2025. Employment grew by 7.5% over the previous year.

Residents' unemployment rate is higher than Greater Sydney's at 8.1%, with workforce participation at 39.6%. Working from home is common, with 24.5% of residents doing so. Key employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing has a strong presence, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 6.3%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment increased by 7.5% while labour force grew by 3.9%, reducing unemployment by 2.9 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.1% increase over five years and 13.0% over ten years in Fairfield Heights, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Fairfield Heights' median taxpayer income is $37,903 and average is $45,956. This is below national averages of $68,134 (median) and $93,945 (average). Greater Sydney's figures are $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated median income for Fairfield Heights as of September 2025 is approximately $41,261, with average being around $50,028. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 19th percentile ($1,285 weekly), and personal income at the 1st percentile. Income distribution data shows that 29.4% of locals (2,615 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 73.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 10th percentile.

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

Fairfield Heights' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.5% houses and 43.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 56.5% houses and 43.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield Heights was at 26.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.9% and rented dwellings at 50.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Fairfield Heights was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 80.5% of all households, including 47.0% couples with children, 14.4% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 19.5%, with lone person households at 18.0% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 3.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Fairfield Heights exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

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 at 2.1% and graduate diplomas at 0.7%. Vocational pathways account for 22.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 13.4%. Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in secondary education, 10.7% in primary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairfield Heights has 18 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 21 different routes that together facilitate 1,370 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living within 204 meters of the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car use is dominant at 84%, while train usage stands at 9%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Fairfield Heights.

According to the 2021 Census, 24.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 195 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 76 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fairfield Heights's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Fairfield Heights shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a standard level. Private health cover is found to be low at approximately 45% of the total population (~4,020 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes (6.6%) and arthritis (6.5%), with 76.8% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 17.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,529 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings for the general population.

Fairfield Heights 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 Heights has one of the highest proportions of overseas-born residents in Australia, with 68.9%. Over 82.4% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 69.6%, while Buddhism is significantly higher than Sydney's average at 12.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (53.4%), Vietnamese (10.6%), and Chinese (8.5%). Notably, Serbian (2.0%) and Lebanese (1.9%) residents are overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Fairfield Heights's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Fairfield Heights was close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years at the time of the census, similar to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield Heights had a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.6%). Between the censuses held on August 9, 2016 and August 10, 2021, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 increased from 14.0% to 16.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 decreased from 12.7% to 11.4%, and the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 dropped from 14.4% to 13.2%. By 2041, Fairfield Heights is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The group aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 44%, increasing from 489 people to 705. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 90% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the groups aged 25 to 34 and 55 to 64.