Fairfield Heights
Fairfield Heights packs 5,609 people per sq km into just 1.47 sq km, yet 56.5% of dwellings are detached houses, creating unusually tight lot sizes. With 68.9% born overseas (47.3 pp above national) and Arabic as the top non-English language at 580 speakers, this is one of western Sydney's most concentrated migrant communities. The 14.8% unemployment rate is roughly triple the national average, and SEIFA IRSD decile 1 confirms deep disadvantage. Despite this, house prices rose 13.1% in 12 months to $1,250,000, driven by the land-scarcity premium in a built-out suburb.
Population
8,269
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,285/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price jumped from $1,105,500 to $1,250,000 in a year (+13.1%), driven by land scarcity in a suburb with only 1.47 sq km of area. Detached houses (56.5%) coexist with semi-detached (36.6%) and a small apartment share (6.9%). Three-bedroom homes (45.1%) and 4+ bedroom (35.1%) dominate. However, mortgage stress at 38.9% of income is extreme, well above the 30% threshold. Household income at just the 29th percentile nationally means most buyers stretch significantly. Average household size of 3.4 is well above the national 2.5, reflecting multigenerational living that pools incomes to service mortgages.
For Buyers
The median house price jumped from $1,105,500 to $1,250,000 in a year (+13.1%), driven by land scarcity in a suburb with only 1.47 sq km of area. Detached houses (56.5%) coexist with semi-detached (36.6%) and a small apartment share (6.9%). Three-bedroom homes (45.1%) and 4+ bedroom (35.1%) dominate. However, mortgage stress at 38.9% of income is extreme, well above the 30% threshold. Household income at just the 29th percentile nationally means most buyers stretch significantly. Average household size of 3.4 is well above the national 2.5, reflecting multigenerational living that pools incomes to service mortgages.
For Investors
The 50.2% renter share signals strong tenant demand, though rent stress at 35% of income is high. Weekly rents of $450 on a $1.25M median produce a gross yield around 1.9%, below the Sydney average. Vacancy at 5.8% is moderate. Net overseas migration adds 672 people annually, a powerful demand driver, but internal outflows of -495/year partially offset it. Development is active at 57 DAs in 12 months, including new dwelling houses and residential accommodation. Population growth at 0.67% annually is modest. The COVID dip of -4.3% recovered fully, showing resilient underlying demand from migrant communities.
Development Activity
Total DAs
229
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The largest ancestry group is classified as Other (4,583), reflecting highly diverse non-European backgrounds. Vietnamese (911) and Chinese (728) are the next two, followed by English (424). Arabic (580 speakers), Khmer (93), Cantonese (90), Mandarin (72), and Serbian (65) form the linguistic fabric. Overseas-born at 68.9% is 47.3 pp above national. Christianity dominates at 5,336, but Buddhism (928) and Islam (514) are substantial. Residential stability is high: 84.9% stayed at the same address over 5 years, the highest in this cohort. Need-for-assistance at 13.0% is well above the national average, and volunteering at 5.1% is among the lowest.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.5%
Houses
36.6%
Townhouse
6.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices climbed from $1,105,500 to $1,250,000 in 12 months (+13.1%). Ownership splits reveal a renter-majority suburb: 25.8% own outright, 24.0% have mortgages, and 50.2% rent. The low mortgage share (24.0%) relative to the renter share suggests many buyers purchased decades ago or paid cash. Detached houses at 56.5% are dominant, but semi-detached at 36.6% reflects subdivision of original lots. Mortgage stress at 38.9% and rent stress at 35.0% both far exceed the 30% threshold. With household income at the 29th percentile and a $1.25M median, the price-to-income mismatch is among the widest in Sydney.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$431
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
141
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.0%
Couples, no children
7,199
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 21.8% (211 workers), but total employment counts are low because only 26.2% of the adult population participates in the labour force, one of the lowest rates in Sydney. Education (9.5%), Professional/Tech (9.2%), Construction (8.8%), and Manufacturing (7.7%) follow. Labourers (301) edge out Professionals (297) as the top occupation, alongside Machinery/Drivers (217), reflecting the working-class employment base. Unemployment at 14.8% is roughly triple the national rate. SEIFA IEO decile 2 and IRSD decile 1 confirm deep disadvantage. The 4,127 residents not in the labour force dwarf the 1,480 who are employed.
Unemployment
12.8%
Labour Force
6,961
Unemployed
890
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
24.3%
Participation
26.2%
Employed
1,480
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.4%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
68.9%
Dwellings
2,277
Transport to Work
Public transport captures 4.6% of commuters, and 87.0% drive. Walking/cycling at 2.0% is low. No schools are located within the suburb boundary; families access neighbouring Fairfield schools. Need-for-assistance at 13.0% is nearly double the national average. SEIFA IRSAD decile 1 is the lowest nationally. The volunteering rate of 5.1% and low participation (26.2%) reflect structural barriers to engagement. The high residential stability (84.9% stayed 5 years) indicates community rootedness despite the socioeconomic indicators, suggesting strong informal networks that formal metrics do not capture.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+129 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 8.3% over the past decade at 0.67% annually, adding 129 people per year, below the national average growth rate. The COVID dip of -4.3% recovered fully (+4.2% rebound). Medium forecasts project 19,989 by 2031, up from 19,302 in 2025. Net overseas migration at +672/year is the primary engine, vastly exceeding internal outflows of -495/year. The aging trajectory sees the senior share up 5.2 pp while young adults dropped 4.0 pp. Real income grew only 9.0% over the decade, barely outpacing inflation, which explains why affordability has not improved despite rising nominal incomes.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+672
Net Internal / yr
-495
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -495/yr, Strong overseas inflow +672/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fairfield Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairfield Heights a good suburb to live in?
Fairfield Heights scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 1, the lowest nationally. Unemployment at 14.8% is triple the national rate, and no schools sit within the boundary. However, 84.9% residential stability shows deep community roots. The $1,250,000 median reflects land scarcity in 1.47 sq km, not affluence.
What is the median house price in Fairfield Heights?
The median house price is $1,250,000 as of 2025, up 13.1% from $1,105,500 the previous year. Despite the high price, household income sits at just the 29th percentile nationally. Mortgage stress at 38.9% of income far exceeds the 30% safe threshold.
What schools are in Fairfield Heights?
No schools are located within Fairfield Heights. Families access schools in neighbouring Fairfield and surrounding suburbs. The suburb's SEIFA IEO decile 2 for education/occupation sits in the bottom 20% nationally, and university attainment at 29.4% is 0.7 pp below the national average.
Is Fairfield Heights safe?
Crime data is not reported at the suburb level for Fairfield Heights. SEIFA IRSD decile 1 indicates deep disadvantage, and unemployment at 14.8% is well above the national rate. Both factors are statistically associated with elevated crime rates in comparable western Sydney suburbs.
Is Fairfield Heights good for property investment?
The 50.2% renter share provides strong tenant demand, but gross yield at ~1.9% ($450/week on $1.25M) is low. Rent stress at 35.0% is high, risking arrears. Net overseas migration at +672/year sustains demand, and prices grew 13.1% in the past year. Entry cost is significant at $1.25M.
How is Fairfield Heights's population changing?
Population grew 8.3% over the past decade to 19,302 in 2025. Net overseas migration at +672/year drives growth, offset by internal outflows of -495/year. The COVID dip of -4.3% recovered fully. The senior share rose 5.2 pp while young adults dropped 4.0 pp over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Fairfield Heights?
Arabic (580 speakers), Khmer (93), Cantonese (90), Mandarin (72), and Serbian (65) are the top non-English languages. With 68.9% born overseas (47.3 pp above national), Fairfield Heights is one of Sydney's most linguistically diverse suburbs, anchored by Vietnamese (911) and Chinese (728) ancestry groups.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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