Fairy Meadow

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of Fairy Meadow is around 7,558. This figure represents an increase of 46 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,512. AreaSearch's analysis, based on validated new addresses and latest ERP data from June 2024, suggests a resident population of 7,527 in Fairy Meadow. The population density is approximately 2,209 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed to around 87% of overall population gains recently.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data for SA2 areas released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate an above median population growth for the suburb until 2041, with an expected increase of 1,385 persons, reflecting a total increase of 17.9%.

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

Fairy Meadow has seen approximately 15 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 75 homes. As of FY26, there have been 5 recorded approvals. The average population growth per dwelling built in Fairy Meadow was 1.7 people per year between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand. However, this has intensified to 8.6 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. Development projects have an average construction value of $555,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

In FY26, there were $12.9 million in commercial development approvals recorded. Compared to Rest of NSW, Fairy Meadow has significantly lower building activity, with 66.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. New building activity shows a focus on higher-density living, with 53.0% townhouses or apartments, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 572 people per dwelling approval, Fairy Meadow reflects a highly mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Fairy Meadow is projected to add 1,354 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. Key projects include Mount Ousley Interchange, 68-74 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development, Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station, and Elements at IRT Towradgi Beach. The following list details those considered most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Fairy Meadow lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Fairy Meadow's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate stands at 5.9%. Over the past year, employment has remained relatively stable.

As of December 2025, 3,936 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.9%, which is 2.0% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Fairy Meadow is 64.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 29.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Fairy Meadow shows strong specialization in finance & insurance, with an employment share twice that of Regional NSW. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.3% of the workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.5%, while labour force grew by 0.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Fairy Meadow's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

As per AreaSearch's latest data released for financial year 2023, Fairy Meadow's median income among taxpayers is $48,852. The average income is $65,661. This is lower than the national average. Comparing to Regional NSW, Fairy Meadow has a median of $48,852 compared to $52,390 and an average of $65,661 compared to $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,180 (median) and $71,479 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household incomes rank at the 23rd percentile, family incomes at the 26th percentile, and personal incomes at the 29th percentile in Fairy Meadow. Distribution data shows that 29.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, which aligns with the broader area where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 24th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Fairy Meadow, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 57.4% houses and 42.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fairy Meadow was 35.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.5% and rented dwellings at 42.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairy Meadow was $2,167, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733. Median weekly rent in Fairy Meadow was $390, while Regional NSW had $330. Nationally, Fairy Meadow's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher at $390 compared to the national figure of $375.

Fairy Meadow features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 61.1% of all households, consisting of 23.8% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 30.9% and group households comprising 7.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

The educational profile of Fairy Meadow exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 28.1% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 17.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.6% while certificates make up 25.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.6% in tertiary education, 8.1% in primary education, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Fairy Meadow has 68 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 43 different routes that facilitate 2,803 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 160 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 86%, while walking accounts for 4%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

Notably, 29.8% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions). Across all routes, service frequency averages 400 trips daily, translating to roughly 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Fairy Meadow is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Fairy Meadow faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~3,998 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.3% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 66.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 18.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,383 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Fairy Meadow's population showed greater cultural diversity than most nearby markets, with 27.3% born overseas and 23.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Fairy Meadow, comprising 51.9%. However, Islam was significantly overrepresented compared to Regional NSW, making up 5.1% versus 0.8%.

Regarding ancestry, the top groups were English (23.7%), Australian (23.3%), and Other (10.6%). Notably, Serbian (1.0% vs 0.2%), Italian (7.2% vs 2.1%), and Macedonian (1.0% vs 0.4%) ethnic groups were overrepresented in Fairy Meadow compared to regional averages.

Fairy Meadow's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Fairy Meadow as of 2021 was 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile showed that individuals aged 15-24 were prominent at 18.5%, while those aged 65-74 made up 8.6% of the population, both figures being higher than the national averages of 12.5%. Between 2021 and the present day, the median age has decreased by 1.4 years to 37 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the proportion of individuals aged 25-34 increased from 14.8% to 17.7%, while those aged 15-24 rose from 15.7% to 18.5%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 45-54 decreased from 12.0% to 10.1%, and those aged 55-64 dropped from 11.4% to 9.9%. Population forecasts for Fairy Meadow indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 41%, reaching 1,886 individuals from 1,337 currently. In contrast, the 55-64 age group is projected to decline by 85 people.