Fairlight

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

The estimated population of the suburb of Fairlight is around 6,640 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase from the previous reported population of 6,141 people in the 2021 Census, marking a growth of 499 people (8.1%). The latest resident population estimate of 6,636 is based on AreaSearch's examination of the ABS' ERP data release from June 2025 and validation of nine new addresses since the Census date. This results in a high population density ratio of 5,675 persons per square kilometer, placing Fairlight within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.7%) and the SA3 area, indicating its status as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.0% of Fairlight's overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Applying growth rates by age group from these aggregations to all areas, Fairlight is projected to increase its population by just below the median of national areas to 2041, gaining a total of 686 persons over the 16-year period and reflecting an overall gain of 10.3%.

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

Fairlight has seen approximately three new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 17 homes were approved, with four more approved in FY-26 so far.

This results in an average of 3.9 new residents per year for every home built over these five financial years. The 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. Compared to Greater Sydney, Fairlight has significantly less development activity, 77.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes 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, representing a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 26.0% houses). This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

It also indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 1851 people per dwelling approval, Fairlight reflects a highly mature market. Future projections show Fairlight adding 682 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects expected to impact the area. Notable projects are Two Tides in Manly, Le Onde, White Water, and The Strand at Balgowlah. Relevant details about these projects follow.

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

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Employment conditions in Fairlight demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Fairlight has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 4014 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Fairlight stands at 73.5%, close to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 64.0% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Professional & technical services have a particularly high concentration, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Conversely, retail trade shows lower representation at 5.9%, compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.5% and employment declined by 1.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Fairlight's employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

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 the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, the suburb of Fairlight had a median income among taxpayers of $74,226. The average income stood at $139,618. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, with Greater Sydney's levels being $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $81,886 (median) and $154,027 (average) as of March 2026. From the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Fairlight, between the 97th and 98th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 41.2% of locals (2,735 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 achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 97th percentile. 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 26.4% houses and 73.5% 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 Fairlight stood at 33.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (30.5%) or rented (35.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,467, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent in Fairlight was recorded at $720, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Fairlight's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 69.9 percent of all households, including 32.4 percent couples with children, 29.7 percent couples without children, and 7.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.1 percent, with lone person households at 23.8 percent and group households comprising 6.3 percent of the total. 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

In Fairlight, a notable 56.3% of residents aged 15 years and above possess university qualifications, surpassing national (30.4%) and state (NSW at 32.2%) averages. This high educational attainment is driven by bachelor degrees (36.4%), postgraduate qualifications (15.7%), and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational pathways account for 22.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 10.8%. Educational participation is markedly high, 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, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 33 different routes that together facilitate 3,381 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 88 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most residents commute outward due to Fairlight being primarily residential. Cars are the dominant mode of transport, used by 72% of residents, while walking and public transport account for 10% and 8%, respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 64% of Fairlight residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 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 of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence reveals a 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 (5,434 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and 55.7% nationally.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.5 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A total of 77.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Fairlight has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,122 people), higher than the 15.5% 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's population showed high cultural diversity, with 10.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 33.9% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 44.1%. Judaism, though small at 0.4%, was higher than Greater Sydney's average of 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.3%), Australian (20.8%), and Irish (10.7%). Notably, French (1.4%) and Welsh (1.1%) populations exceeded regional averages by significant margins, while Spanish (0.8%) was slightly overrepresented.

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

The median age in Fairlight is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, the 55-64 age group is notably over-represented in Fairlight at 12.3%, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 9.5%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.2% to 11.4% of Fairlight's population, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.9% to 12.2%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 10.6% to 9.5%. Population forecasts for Fairlight in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. Notably, the 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 51%, reaching 603 people from 398. This growth is led by residents aged 65 and older, who represent 67% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.