Fairfield
Household income sits at the 87.3rd percentile, yet Fairfield retains a young resident profile with a median age of 32 and a population of 3,106 in just 1.18 square kilometres. Its density of 2,622.2 people per square kilometre supports a compact inner-south lifestyle near Annerley and Yeronga, with apartments and rental homes forming a meaningful part of the market. University participation is 60.5%, or 30.4 percentage points above the national comparison, which helps explain the strong professional workforce and 27.5% working-from-home rate. Overseas-born residents account for 28.1%, also above the national comparison, adding to rental and local-service demand.
Local council: Brisbane
Population
3,106
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,267/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Fairfield suits buyers who value an inner-urban setting and a mix of dwelling formats, but the absence of a current median house price makes property-level comparison important. Separate houses account for 62.9% of homes, while apartments represent 28.6%, so buyers can choose between more traditional family layouts and lower-maintenance options. Three-bedroom homes make up 35.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes 26.0%, supporting both couples and families. Monthly mortgage commitments are listed at $2,100, compared with weekly rent of $410, while mortgage costs equal 21.4% of household income and rent equals 18.1%. Household income at the 87.3rd percentile may support purchasing power, although dwelling condition and land size will create wide price differences.
For Buyers
Fairfield suits buyers who value an inner-urban setting and a mix of dwelling formats, but the absence of a current median house price makes property-level comparison important. Separate houses account for 62.9% of homes, while apartments represent 28.6%, so buyers can choose between more traditional family layouts and lower-maintenance options. Three-bedroom homes make up 35.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes 26.0%, supporting both couples and families. Monthly mortgage commitments are listed at $2,100, compared with weekly rent of $410, while mortgage costs equal 21.4% of household income and rent equals 18.1%. Household income at the 87.3rd percentile may support purchasing power, although dwelling condition and land size will create wide price differences.
For Investors
Fairfield has a substantial renter base at 42.4%, higher than the 22.6% share owned outright, creating a broad tenant pool for well-located housing. Weekly rent is $410 and vacancy is 5.2%, indicating that leasing conditions should be tested carefully by dwelling type rather than judged from suburb averages alone. Demand is supported by a workforce concentrated in healthcare, education and professional services, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Twenty-one development matters in the past 12 months point to ongoing activity, including a recorded dual-occupancy proposal for 2 dwellings. Compared with a low-turnover market, Fairfield's 36.5% annual mobility rate may create more frequent leasing opportunities, but it can also increase reletting and maintenance costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
66
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+53.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Fairfield's median age of 32 is 8.0 years below the national comparison, reinforcing its young-resident profile. University participation reaches 60.5%, which is 30.4 percentage points above the national comparison, while 28.1% of residents were born overseas, 6.5 points above the national figure. The average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, with couples without children forming 41.3% of families and couples with children 42.1%. English ancestry is recorded for 1,159 residents, followed by Other at 518 and Irish at 469. No religion is the largest religious response at 1,626, ahead of Christianity at 1,049. Compared with nearby Annerley and Yeronga, Fairfield's compact 1.18 square kilometre footprint gives these young, educated households a particularly concentrated setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.9%
Houses
8.5%
Townhouse
28.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Fairfield's housing profile is more mixed than a conventional detached-home suburb. Separate houses account for 62.9% of dwellings, apartments 28.6% and semi-detached homes 8.5%, giving renters and buyers several formats to consider. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 35.4%, followed by four-bedroom-plus at 26.0% and two-bedroom homes at 28.7%. Renting accounts for 42.4%, compared with 34.3% paying a mortgage and 22.6% owning outright, so tenure is tilted toward people who remain flexible. Weekly rent is $410 and the vacancy rate is 5.2%. Mortgage costs represent 21.4% of household income versus 18.1% for rent, making the relative burden higher for mortgagors. Compared with nearby Annerley and Yeronga, Fairfield's 1.18 square kilometre area creates a notably concentrated housing market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $410.
$740
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $740 · units $600
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$973
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
66
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.1%
Couples with children
41.3%
Couples, no children
13.3%
Single parent
738
Total families
Economy & Employment
Fairfield has a highly educated employment base, with 749 professionals and 239 managers, supported by 74.9% labour-force participation and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.8%, or 285 workers, followed by Education at 16.6% and 239 workers, Professional and Technical services at 14.4% and 207 workers, Public Administration at 6.8% and 97 workers, and Retail at 6.2% and 89 workers. The SEIFA pattern is uneven: the education and occupation decile is 9, well above the economic resources decile of 3, while disadvantage is moderate at IRSD decile 7 and advantage is high at IRSAD decile 8. This gap suggests strong professional credentials alongside more varied household resources. Full-time employment is 56.6%, with 1,075 full-time and 650 part-time workers, supporting weekday demand for services and local transport.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
2,002
Unemployed
104
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.6%
Part-time
34.2%
Participation
74.9%
Employed
1,898
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.5%
Postgraduate
20.1%
Born Overseas
28.1%
Dwellings
1,206
Transport to Work
Fairfield's compact 1.18 square kilometre footprint and density of 2,622.2 people per square kilometre support shorter local trips, although the dominant travel mode remains driving, used by 47.1% of residents. Public transport accounts for 12.0%, walking or cycling for 9.1%, and working from home for 27.5%, so access needs will vary by household and employment location. Socioeconomic conditions are relatively strong overall, with IRSAD decile 8 higher than the IER decile 3, while 20.1% of residents volunteer and 3.8% need assistance with core activities. Families should check school catchments and enrolment rules against the exact address, because boundaries can cross suburb lines and nearby options can differ by sector and year level. Street-level safety should also be assessed directly, as a suburb-wide crime rate is not available. Compared with lower-density outer suburbs, Fairfield trades private space for proximity and urban convenience.
Drive
47.1%
Public Transport
12.0%
Walk / Cycle
9.1%
Work from Home
27.5%
Growth Outlook
Fairfield's annual growth trend is 1.28%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The wider area recorded 24.3% population change over 10 years, while rent growth reached 25.0%, indicating that demand has strengthened faster than a slow-moving established suburb. The forecast trajectory is Mixed, with the working-age share up 4.0 percentage points and both the young and senior shares down 1.2 points. Gentrification signals are still described as Early signs with a score of 20, although a separate shift measure records 61 and Active, so the direction is not uniform. Compared with the 2.0% COVID dip, Fairfield recovered with a 6.7% improvement. Development activity and overseas migration provide reasons for continued change, but the mixed trajectory argues for street-level assessment.
Population trend: Brisbane council area
Fairfield sits in the Brisbane council area. These are the council area's residents, not Fairfield's.
Residents 2025
1,375,301
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fairfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairfield a good suburb to live in?
Fairfield can suit residents seeking a compact inner-south setting, strong professional participation and varied housing. The median age is 32, university participation is 60.5%, and 27.5% work from home. Renting is common at 42.4%, so the suburb may appeal more to mobile households than buyers seeking large blocks. Compare the exact street, dwelling and transport needs before deciding.
What is the median house price in Fairfield?
A current median house price is not available as a reliable benchmark. Buyers should compare recent settled sales in postcode 4103 by land size, dwelling type and bedroom count. Fairfield contains 62.9% separate houses and 28.6% apartments, so a single suburb figure could conceal substantial differences. Monthly mortgage costs are listed at $2,100, but that is not a substitute for a purchase-price comparison.
What schools are in Fairfield?
Use the exact address and postcode 4103 to check current school catchments, nearby primary and secondary options, sector and enrolment rules. Confirm details directly with each school and the Queensland education directory before signing a lease or purchase contract, because boundaries can cross suburb lines and the closest school is not always the allocated school.
Is Fairfield safe?
Assess safety at street level rather than relying only on a suburb label. For Fairfield postcode 4103, review current Queensland Police information for the relevant area, visit during daytime and evening, and inspect lighting, footpaths and access routes. Speaking with prospective neighbours can add useful local context, particularly for renters choosing between streets or apartment buildings.
Is Fairfield good for property investment?
Fairfield has several investment supports: 42.4% of residents rent, weekly rent is $410, vacancy is 5.2%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. The renter share is higher than outright ownership at 22.6%. However, 21 development matters in 12 months and a mixed growth trajectory mean investors should compare dwelling type, body corporate costs, reletting risk and street-level tenant demand before purchasing.
How is Fairfield's population changing?
Growth is tracking at 1.28% a year and is primarily driven by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 24.3% over 10 years, while rents have grown 25.0%. The trajectory is Mixed: the gentrification score is 20 at the Early signs stage, while the shift measure is 61 and labelled Active. Fairfield also recovered from a 2.0% COVID dip with a 6.7% recovery.
What development is occurring in Fairfield?
There were 21 development matters recorded over the past 12 months. Examples include a commercial dual-occupancy proposal involving 2 dwellings, a 1-dwelling referral response and a house extension. Investors and neighbours should check the exact address, approval status, construction timing and potential effects on parking, privacy and local traffic before relying on a proposed project.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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