Fairfield West

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of Fairfield West is around 13,684, reflecting an increase of 703 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,981. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 13,589 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 29 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 4,236 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairfield West in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth of 5.4% since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.0%, making Fairfield West a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where necessary, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.

Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase by 2041, with Fairfield West expected to expand by 592 persons, reflecting an increase of 3.6% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Fairfield West when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Fairfield West has experienced around 56 dwellings receiving development approval each year. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY21 to FY25, approximately 280 homes were approved, with an additional 47 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1.3 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during these years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $321,000. This year has seen $246,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield West maintains similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 52.0% standalone homes and 48.0% townhouses or apartments, demonstrating a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 88.0% houses.

This change indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects evolving lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 239 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Fairfield West is expected to grow by 497 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Fairfield West 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 21 projects that may affect the region. Notable projects include EVO Fairfield, The Vale - Fairfield Heights (Stage 3), Fairfield Heights Town Centre Public Domain Upgrades, and 368 Hamilton Road Mixed-Use Development. Below is a list of those most likely to be 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 performance in Fairfield West lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Fairfield West has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.4% as of an unspecified date, with estimated employment growth of 7.1% over the previous year. As of December 2025, 5,056 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was lower in Fairfield West at 49.6% compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A significant number of residents worked from home, with 27.4% citing this as their work arrangement. The leading employment industries were manufacturing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Manufacturing employment was notably high at 2.2 times the regional average, while professional & technical services employed only 5.3% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between two unspecified dates, employment increased by 7.1% alongside labour force growth of 5.0%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate of 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded lower employment and labour force growth with a marginal rise in unemployment. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25, overall employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairfield West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this extrapolation does not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Fairfield West's median taxpayer income in financial year 2023 was $41,860. The average income for the suburb was $50,754 during the same period. This is lower than national averages, with Greater Sydney having a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003 in 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth, estimated incomes for Fairfield West as of March 2026 would be approximately $46,180 (median) and $55,992 (average). According to the 2021 Census, individual incomes in Fairfield West were at the 2nd percentile ($476 weekly), while household incomes performed better at the 30th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 31.3% of residents (4,283 people). Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 79.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 24th percentile.

Fairfield West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Fairfield West's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 88.4% houses and 11.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairfield West stood at 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented ones at 36.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Fairfield West was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairfield West's median mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 85.0% of all households, including 47.6% couples with children, 17.7% couples without children, and 18.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 15.0%, consisting of 13.2% lone person households and 1.9% group households. The median household size is 3.4 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.2%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Vocational pathways account for 24.9% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 16.1%. Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.6% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairfield West has 61 active public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These are serviced by 42 individual routes, providing 1,465 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 171 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, while train usage stands at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 27.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 209 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fairfield West'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

Fairfield West residents have relatively positive health outcomes according to data analysis by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely in line with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level.

Private health cover is low, at approximately 47% of the total population (6,441 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and diabetes, affecting 7.3% and 6.0% of residents respectively. 75.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,285 people), higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Fairfield West 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 West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 59.5% of its population born overseas and 75.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Fairfield West, comprising 63.0% of the population. Buddhism is significantly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's average, making up 15.7% of Fairfield West's population.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (39.5%), Vietnamese (16.4%), and Australian (8.8%). These percentages differ substantially from regional averages: Other is significantly higher (39.5% vs 16.0%), Vietnamese is also much higher (16.4% vs 1.8%), while Australian is notably lower (8.8% vs 17.8%). Additionally, Croatian, Serbian, and Spanish ethnic groups are notably overrepresented in Fairfield West compared to regional averages: Croatian at 1.6% vs 0.7%, Serbian at 1.1% vs 0.5%, and Spanish at 1.0% vs 0.6%.

Fairfield West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At age 36 years, Fairfield West's median age is nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairfield West has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.8%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.8%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 14.7% to 16.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 14.3% to 13.1%, and those aged 45 to 54 have dropped from 12.8% to 11.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Fairfield West's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 48%, adding 391 residents to reach a total of 1,213. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 79% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to experience population declines.