Fairfield (Vic.)

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Fairfield (Vic.) is around 7,125, reflecting a 9.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,535 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7,031 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 118 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,133 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Fairfield's growth rate of 9.0% positions it within 0.9 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. Based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods, the suburb is predicted to experience exceptional growth over the period from 2026 to 2041.

By 2041, the population is expected to expand by 3,071 persons, reflecting a gain of 41.8% in total over the 15 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 averaged approximately 33 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 167 homes were approved, with an additional 16 approved in FY-26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodated about 1.4 new residents annually. However, this figure has increased to 6.6 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value of development projects was $962,000, suggesting a focus on premium market segments. This year, Fairfield has seen $6.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its predominantly residential character. Recent construction consisted of 45% detached houses and 55% townhouses or apartments, favoring higher-density living options.

With around 223 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield's population is growing. AreaSearch projects Fairfield will add approximately 2,977 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects likely to impact this region. Notable projects include Alphington Village, Paper House Alphington, Samma Place, Ivanhoe, and Fairfield Station Precinct Redevelopment. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Fairfield demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Fairfield has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 4.4%, with an estimated employment growth of 5.0% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 4,453 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Fairfield is higher at 76.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Census responses indicate that 49.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Fairfield has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 5.5% of Fairfield's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 5.0%, while the labour force grew by 4.7%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.4%, with a labour force growth of 2.8% and an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Fairfield's employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Fairfield had a median taxpayer income of $66,311 and an average income of $98,909 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. These figures are exceptionally high nationally, with Greater Melbourne's median income being $57,688 and average income being $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $71,782 (median) and $107,069 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, individual earnings in Fairfield stood out at the 85th percentile nationally ($1,093 weekly). Distribution data showed that the predominant cohort spans 27.2% of locals (1,938 people) with incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. This pattern is similar to the broader area where 32.8% occupy this income range. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 33.3% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income in Fairfield, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Fairfield's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 43.9% houses and 56.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Melbourne metro, on the other hand, had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield was 29.2%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (28.5%) or rented (42.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairfield was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Fairfield was $369, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Fairfield's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 57.1% of all households, including 25.8% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 42.9%, with lone person households at 37.9% and group households making up 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne 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 national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 54.4% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 31.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.5%) and graduate diplomas (7.0%). Vocational pathways account for 18.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.5% and certificates at 10.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (9.2%), primary education (7.9%), and secondary education (6.2%).

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

Fairfield has 42 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 10 different routes, which together facilitate 2,761 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 133 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes in this predominantly residential area are outward-bound. Cars remain the most popular mode of transport, used by 66% of residents, followed by trains at 14% and cycling at 8%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 49.7% of Fairfield's residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 394 trips per day, translating to roughly 65 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 superior health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (4,685 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (11.6%) and asthma (8.5%). 69.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Under-65s have better than average health outcomes. The area has 15.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,090 people). Seniors' health outcomes are above average, generally in line with national rankings.

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

Fairfield's population showed high cultural diversity, with 23.4% born overseas and 19.5% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Fairfield, comprising 36.2%. Notably, Judaism had a higher representation in Fairfield at 0.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.5%), Australian (19.7%), and Irish (11.3%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Greeks (5.7% vs regional 2.7%) and Italians (7.2% vs 5.2%), while Polish representation was slightly higher at 1%.

Fairfield's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Fairfield has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and remaining close to Australia's 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 18.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 9.1%. Between 2021 and the present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 10.1% to 11.4% of the population, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.0% to 5.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.9% to 12.5%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 10.2% to 9.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Fairfield's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 group is projected to grow by 59% (521 people), reaching 1,412 from 890.