Fairlight

Fairlight has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Fairlight's population is estimated at around 6,579 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 438 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,141 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,539 following examination of the ABS' latest ERP data release (June 2024) and an additional 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,623 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairlight in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 7.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.5%) and SA3 area, marking it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Fairlight.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to Fairlight for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with Fairlight expected to expand by 828 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 14.1% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Fairlight according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Fairlight has seen approximately 3 new homes approved annually. Between FY21 and FY25, around 18 homes were approved, with another 4 approved so far in FY26.

This results in an average of 8.8 new residents per year for every home built over the past five financial years. Demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average value of $1,006,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Relative to Greater Sydney, Fairlight has significantly less development activity, 76.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, which is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development that provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 26.0% houses.

This indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 1642 people per dwelling approval, Fairlight reflects a highly mature market. Future projections show Fairlight adding approximately 926 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Fairlight has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified four projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Two Tides (Manly), Le Onde, and Stockland Balgowlah Shopping Centre Expansion & Residential. 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 conditions in Fairlight demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Fairlight has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector prominently represented. Its unemployment rate stands at 2.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 4,080 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Fairlight is high at 76.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 64.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Fairlight shows a notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Conversely, retail trade has lower representation at 5.9% versus the regional average of 9.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.0%, while employment declined by 0.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points in Fairlight. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.1%, the labour force grew by 2.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Fairlight. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Fairlight's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Fairlight suburb had median income among taxpayers at $74,226 with average income standing at $139,618. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $80,802 for median income and $151,988 for average income. From the 2021 Census, incomes in Fairlight rank highly nationally, between 97th and 98th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution shows that 41.2% of locals (2,710 people) fall into the $4000+ category, differing from the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Economic strength is evident with 53.6% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 97th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Fairlight features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Fairlight's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 26.4% houses and 73.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairlight was higher at 33.9%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (30.5%) or rented (35.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairlight was $3,467, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Fairlight was $720, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairlight's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 69.9% of all households, including 32.4% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.1%, with lone person households at 23.8% and group households comprising 6.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Fairlight's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 56.3% possess university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and New South Wales' average of 32.2%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for Fairlight residents. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 36.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%.

Vocational pathways account for 22.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 11.8% and certificates comprising 10.8%. Educational participation is high in Fairlight, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fairlight has 58 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 33 different routes, offering 3,381 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 88 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, and most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 72%, followed by walking at 10% and buses at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 64.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 483 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 58 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fairlight's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Fairlight. AreaSearch's assessment indicates very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 82% of the total population (5,384 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.5% and 6.1% of residents respectively. 77.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Fairlight has 17.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,125 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Fairlight, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data from June 2016, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas. It was found that 10.8% of its population spoke a language other than English at home and 33.9% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Fairlight, with 44.1% of people identifying as such.

However, Judaism showed an overrepresentation, comprising 0.4% of Fairlight's population compared to the Greater Sydney average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, English was the most represented group at 32.3%, significantly higher than the regional average of 19.0%. Australian and Irish were the next two most represented groups, with 20.8% and 10.7% respectively. Notably, French (1.4%), Welsh (1.1%), and Spanish (0.8%) were also overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 0.5%, 0.4%, and 0.6%.

Fairlight's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Fairlight is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, the 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Fairlight at 12.5%, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 9.7%. According to data from the 2021 Census and onwards, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.2% to 11.5% of Fairlight's population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age cohort has declined from 13.9% to 12.4%. By 2041, Fairlight's population is forecasted to undergo significant demographic changes. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 223 people and reaching a total of 1,046 from the current 822. This growth is led by residents aged 65 and older, who represent 60% of the anticipated population increase. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 35-44 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.