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 Fairfield (Vic.) is around 7,125. This reflects a growth of 590 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,535. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 7,031 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,133 persons per square kilometer, higher than national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Fairfield's growth rate of 9.0% since census is competitive, being within 0.9 percentage points of the national average (9.9%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

Population projections for Fairfield are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Exceptional growth is predicted by 2041, with Fairfield expected to expand by 3,238 persons, reflecting a gain of 45.1% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Fairfield shows an average of around 33 new dwelling approvals per year. Between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 167 homes were approved, with 13 more approved so far in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, there has been an estimated average of 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed. However, this figure has increased to 6.5 people per dwelling over the last two financial years, suggesting rising demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value for development projects in Fairfield is $962,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. This year alone, there have been $6.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Recent construction comprises 45% detached houses and 55% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and creating more affordable entry points for various buyer types.

With around 223 people per dwelling approval, Fairfield exhibits a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add approximately 3,216 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 to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Alphington Village, Paper House Alphington, Samma Place, Ivanhoe, and Fairfield Station Precinct Redevelopment. The following list details those likely 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.

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

Fairfield's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.4% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.3% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of that date, 4,417 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.3% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation was higher at 76.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Census responses indicated that 49.7% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include 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.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 5.5% of Fairfield's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population counts. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 5.3%, while labour force grew by 4.9%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The suburb of Fairfield has a median taxpayer income of $66,311 and an average income of $98,909 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably higher than the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average) in Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $71,782 (median) and $107,069 (average). According to Census 2021 data, individual earnings in Fairfield stand out at the 85th percentile nationally with weekly earnings of $1,093. Income distribution shows that 27.2% of locals (1,938 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, which is similar to the broader area where 32.8% fall within this range. The suburb demonstrates significant affluence with 33.3% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, but strong earnings 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

As per the latest Census evaluation in Fairfield, 43.9% of dwellings were houses while 56.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Melbourne metropolitan area's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield stood at 29.2%, aligning with Melbourne metro's level, with the remaining dwellings 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 recorded at $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 constitute 57.1 percent of all households, including 25.8 percent couples with children, 23.0 percent couples without children, and 6.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 42.9 percent, with lone person households at 37.9 percent and group households making up 5.2 percent 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 residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than national averages. 54.4% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.5%) and graduate diplomas (7.0%). Vocational pathways account for 18.6%, 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 9.2% in tertiary, 7.9% in primary, and 6.2% in secondary education.

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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 10 different routes that together facilitate 2,761 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically living 133 meters from the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 66% of residents, while trains are used by 14% and cycling by 8%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling in Fairfield, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 49.7%, work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 394 trips per day, equating to approximately 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 according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit 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 affecting 11.6% of residents and asthma impacting 8.5%. A total of 69.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 15.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,075 people). Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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 a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Fairfield, accounting for 36.2%. The most notable disproportion was seen in Judaism, which constituted 0.4% of Fairfield's population compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (23.5%), Australian (19.7%), and Irish (11.3%). Some ethnic groups exhibited significant variations: Greek was overrepresented at 5.7% in Fairfield versus 2.7% regionally, Italian at 7.2% versus 5.2%, and Polish at 1.0% versus 0.8%.

Fairfield's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Fairfield has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 18.3%, higher than Greater Melbourne's proportion, while the 5-14 cohort stands at 9.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has risen from 10.1% to 11.4%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.0% to 5.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group declined from 13.9% to 12.5%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 10.2% to 9.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Fairfield's age structure, notably with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 63%, adding 560 people and reaching a total of 1,451 from its previous figure of 890.