Fairfield (Qld)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since Feb 2026, Fairfield's population is estimated at around 2,792. This reflects a decrease of 314 people (10.1%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,106 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,789 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional four validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,366 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median is expected for Fairfield (Qld), with growth of 466 persons to 2041 reflecting a gain of 37.4% over the 17 years.

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

Fairfield experienced around 53 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 267 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 0.6 new residents arrived per new home each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating supply met or exceeded demand. In FY-26, $1.4 million in commercial approvals were registered, suggesting a residential focus.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fairfield had 134.0% more construction activity per person as of recent periods, suggesting strong developer confidence and ample buyer choice. All new constructions since FY-21 have been standalone homes, maintaining Fairfield's suburban character with a focus on family homes. With around 2220 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield reflects a mature market. Future projections estimate an addition of 1,045 residents by 2041, with current construction levels expected to meet demand favourably for buyers and potentially enable growth exceeding forecasts.

Future projections show Fairfield adding 1,045 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 18 potential impact projects. Notable ones are Princess Alexandra Hospital Expansion, Cross River Rail, Cross River Rail - Dutton Park Station, and Coles Annerley Supermarket. The following details those most relevant.

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 performance in Fairfield has been broadly consistent with national averages

Fairfield has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 2,225 residents employed, and the unemployment rate aligns with Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is high at 96.1%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Census responses indicate that 25.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Fairfield has a notably high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 5.1% of Fairfield's workforce compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force increased by 0.9%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a drop in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Fairfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The median taxpayer income in Fairfield is $58,533, with an average of $74,320, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is higher than 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, current estimates would be approximately $64,334 (median) and $81,685 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Fairfield rank between the 76th and 81st percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 33.7% of locals (940 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category. This is similar to the surrounding region where 33.3% occupy this range. Fairfield demonstrates affluence with 34.2% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 15.1% of income, while strong earnings rank residents within the 81st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Fairfield, as per the latest Census, 62.9% of dwellings were houses while 37.1% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. In Brisbane metropolitan area, this ratio was 73.5% for houses and 26.5% for other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield stood at 22.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.7% and rented ones at 42.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairfield was $2,100, higher than Brisbane's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Fairfield was $410, compared to Brisbane's $380. Nationally, Fairfield's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,100 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $410 versus the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.5% of all households, including 25.4% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.5%, with lone person households at 24.9% and group households comprising 14.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Fairfield demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Fairfield's educational attainment exceeds broader standards significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 52.6% hold university qualifications, compared to QLD's 25.7% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent (31.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 21.1%, including advanced diplomas (7.8%) and certificates (13.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (15.3%), primary education (6.6%), and secondary education (5.5%).

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

Fairfield has 30 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 different routes, facilitating 3,968 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest transport stop for residents is 132 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 63%, with buses and trains accounting for 11% and 10% respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, lower than the regional average.

Notably, 25.9% of residents work from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 566 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 132 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Fairfield shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is high at approximately 57% of the total population, around 1,581 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (10.2%) and asthma (8.2%). Around 72.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Under-65s have better-than-average health outcomes. Fairfield has 8.9% of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Fairfield's population showed high cultural diversity, with 28.1% born overseas and 18.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Fairfield, accounting for 36.0%. While Judaism comprised only 0.2%, it was higher than Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (25.5%), Australian (20.3%), and Other (11.4%). Notably, French (1.1%) Welsh (0.8%) and Russian (0.6%) ancestry were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.

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

Fairfield's median age is 32 years, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fairfield has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (21.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 15.3% to 16.6% of Fairfield's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 23.1% to 21.1%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Fairfield's age profile, with the 45 to 54 age group expected to expand by 197 people (61%), growing from 323 to 521 residents.