Fairfield (NSW)

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Fairfield (NSW) is around 19,677. This figure represents an increase of 1,081 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,596. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 19,649 in June 2025 and an additional 193 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,461 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 5.8% growth since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the state's 7.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Considering these projections, a significant population increase is forecasted for the suburb, with an expected rise of 5,896 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 29.8% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Fairfield recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Fairfield has approved around 154 dwellings annually based on AreaSearch analysis. From FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 770 homes received approvals, with an additional 45 approved in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average construction cost for new dwellings is $409,000. This financial year, Fairfield recorded $32.2 million in commercial development approvals. The dwelling mix shows 17.0% detached dwellings and 83.0% medium and high-density housing, a shift from the current 40.0% houses. This indicates decreasing developable land availability and increasing demand for affordable housing options.

Fairfield has around 325 people per dwelling approval, suggesting a low density market. By 2041, Fairfield is projected to grow by 5,868 residents. Current development trends appear well-suited to accommodate this future growth, maintaining steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Twenty projects identified by AreaSearch could significantly impact the area's performance due to changes in local infrastructure. These include major initiatives such as Fairfield Central Transformation (formerly Fairfield Chase), Fairfield Forum Redevelopment, and Fairfield West Public Preschool construction. Additionally, the 37-39 Pavesi Street Smithfield Development is noteworthy. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

Fairfield has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 12.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 8.6%. As of December 2025, 6,175 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 8.7%, higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 42.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A high proportion of residents, 26.7%, worked from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing was particularly specialized with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services were under-represented at 5.6% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending May-25, employment increased by 8.6%, labour force by 5.0%, leading to a unemployment fall of 2.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with marginal unemployment rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The suburb of Fairfield has an income level below the national average, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Fairfield is $40,232, with an average income of $48,780. This compares to Greater Sydney's figures of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% from July 2023 to March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $44,384 (median) and $53,814 (average). Census data from 2021 shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Fairfield fall between the 1st and 7th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 29.5% of residents earn between $800 and $1,499 annually, which differs from regional levels where the $1,500 to $2,999 category is predominant at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Fairfield, with only 73.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

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

In Fairfield, as per the latest Census evaluation, 40.2% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 59.8% comprising semi-detached houses, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's dwelling structure of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield stood at 21.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.5% and rented dwellings at 59.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairfield was $1,733, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Fairfield was recorded at $365, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairfield's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, consisting of 36.4% couples with children, 17.0% couples without children, and 18.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 23.1% and group households making up 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 16.7%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational pathways account for 23.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 14.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairfield has 74 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 55 routes, together facilitating 6,420 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 175 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train usage stands at 12%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.7% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 917 trips daily, equating to roughly 86 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fairfield's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows Fairfield residents have relatively positive health outcomes. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely similar to national benchmarks, though common health conditions are slightly more prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~9,110 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (7.4%) and diabetes (7.0%), with 73.7% of residents reporting no medical ailments. This compares to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Under-65 residents have better health outcomes than average. Fairfield has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 19.6% (3,856 people), compared to 15.5% in Greater Sydney. National rankings for this age group are broadly similar to the general population.

Fairfield 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 has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the country, with 70.2% of its residents born overseas and 82.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield, making up 62.1% of its population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 12.8%, compared to the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups in Fairfield are Other (49.4%), Vietnamese (10.8%), and Chinese (9.8%), all substantially higher than regional averages. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Serbian at 1.8% (vs 0.5% regionally), Spanish at 1.1% (vs 0.6%), and Lebanese at 1.8% (vs 2.6%).

Fairfield's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Fairfield has a median age of 40, which is somewhat higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and marginally higher than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, Fairfield has an over-representation of the 65-74 cohort (11.5% locally) and an under-representation of the 35-44 age group (11.6%). Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group grew from 12.6% to 14.4%, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 9.9% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 11.8% to 10.3%, and the 35-44 group dropped from 13.0% to 11.6%. Demographic modeling suggests Fairfield's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041, with the 75-84 age cohort projected to grow significantly, expanding by 1,062 people (96%) from 1,101 to 2,164.