Fairfield
Few inner-Melbourne pockets pair a $1,572,500 median house price with an 11.4% rental vacancy rate, yet Fairfield does both, and the two facts are linked. Household income sits in the 73.9th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 10 on the IEO education-and-occupation index, the top advantage tier in the country. The high vacancy reflects a renter-heavy, apartment-rich stock packed into 3.54 km2 at 1,847 residents per km2, where 42.3% rent and only 43.9% of dwellings are separate houses. University qualifications reach 60.0%, which is 29.9 points above the national figure, and the median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national.
Population
6,535
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,967/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$1.6M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,572,500 median places Fairfield firmly in premium inner-north territory, but the recent direction matters more than the headline. The price has fallen 12.6% from a 2022 peak of $1,800,000, and within the past year it slid from $1,685,000 to $1,572,500 across three quarters, so buyers are entering a softening market rather than chasing one. Stock works against detached-house seekers: only 43.9% are separate houses while apartments make up 34.7% and semi-detached 21.3%, and two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 32.9% with three-bedroom close behind at 30.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because local household incomes sit in the 73.9th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The $1,572,500 median places Fairfield firmly in premium inner-north territory, but the recent direction matters more than the headline. The price has fallen 12.6% from a 2022 peak of $1,800,000, and within the past year it slid from $1,685,000 to $1,572,500 across three quarters, so buyers are entering a softening market rather than chasing one. Stock works against detached-house seekers: only 43.9% are separate houses while apartments make up 34.7% and semi-detached 21.3%, and two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 32.9% with three-bedroom close behind at 30.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because local household incomes sit in the 73.9th percentile nationally.
For Investors
A 42.3% renter share, the largest tenure group, gives landlords a deep tenant pool, with weekly rent at $369. Against the $1,572,500 median that implies a very low gross yield near 1.2%, so the case rests on capital growth rather than income. The 11.4% vacancy rate signals genuine softness in the apartment segment, which is 34.7% of dwellings, and rent has already climbed 26.6% over the period covered. Demand support leans on migration: the wider area adds about 672 residents a year through overseas arrivals against a net internal outflow of 495, so newcomers, not local movers, fill vacancies. Development is thin at 9 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations and a two-lot subdivision rather than new supply, which limits future stock and supports established values.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fairfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Fairfield Primary School
Prep-6 · 556 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, a younger profile than the premium price tag suggests. Overseas-born residents reach 23.4%, only 1.8 points above national, so this is a more locally born population than many inner suburbs. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,179), Irish (1,047) and Scottish (762), with Italian (665) a notable fifth, and the top non-English languages spoken at home are Greek (165), Italian (70) and Mandarin (31). University qualifications at 60.0% run 29.9 points above national, among the highest anywhere. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, consistent with a couples-and-professionals profile where 28.9% of families are couples without children. Christianity (2,207) leads, with Buddhism (114) the next-largest faith.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
43.9%
Houses
21.3%
Townhouse
34.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with renting on top at 42.3%, ahead of outright owners at 29.2% and mortgage holders at 28.5%, a renter-led mix unusual for a suburb at this price. The stock is 43.9% separate houses, 34.7% apartments and 21.3% semi-detached, so detached homes stay scarce and command a premium. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 32.9% and three-bedroom 30.3%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 16.8%. The median house price has risen 71.9% from $915,000 in 2013 to $1,572,500, a 3.9% compound annual rate over 14 years, though it now sits 12.6% below the 2022 peak of $1,800,000. Mortgage-to-income at 25.4% and rent-to-income at 18.8% both stay below the 30% stress line, which reflects how the 73.9th-percentile household incomes absorb the high entry cost.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$369
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,093
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
351
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.9%
Couples, no children
4,491
Total families
Economy & Employment
The resident workforce concentrates in knowledge and care sectors: Healthcare leads at 19.3% (569 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 16.3% (481) and Education at 14.8% (436), with Public Admin at 8.9% and Finance at 5.9%. By occupation, Professionals (1,585) and Managers (595) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation, the top national tier. Unemployment is low at 4.2% and the full-time rate is 64.0%. One anomaly stands out: the IER economic-resources score sits at decile 6 against decile 9 on IRSD and IRSAD, because the 42.3% renter base depresses aggregate household-wealth measures even though education and incomes rank high. Real incomes for the wider area grew 9.0% over the decade.
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
64.0%
Part-time
31.8%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
3,498
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.0%
Postgraduate
19.6%
Born Overseas
23.4%
Dwellings
2,729
Transport to Work
Transport leans on cars, with 70.2% driving, above what the inner-city location might suggest, while 11.2% use public transport and a healthy 15.0% walk or cycle. The crime rate is 82.2 offences per 1,000 residents from 537 total offences, and the mix is property-weighted: 382 of those are property and deception offences against only 85 crimes against the person, so the risk profile skews toward theft rather than violence. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSAD advantage index, near the top national tier, and only 5.3% of residents (333 people) need daily assistance despite the median age of 37. No schools are recorded inside the 3.54 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a common trade-off for compact inner suburbs.
Drive
70.2%
Public Transport
11.2%
Walk / Cycle
15.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+129 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is modest and demographically tilted. The wider statistical area adds about 0.67% a year, roughly 129 people, with the 10-year change at 8.3%, slower than most outer-growth corridors and consistent with an established area. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.2 points while the young-adult share fell 4.0 points over the decade. The medium forecast lifts the area population from 19,342 in 2026 to 19,989 by 2031, a gentle climb. Overseas migration of about 672 a year is the sole positive driver, well above the net internal outflow of 495, so growth depends entirely on new arrivals rather than local movers. The gentrification reading is early-stage at a score near 20, and affordability improved from 85.8% in 2011 to 81.0% in 2021.
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)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
537
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
82.2
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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 ranks decile 10 on the IEO education index and decile 9 on IRSAD, near the top national advantage tier, with household income in the 73.9th percentile. University qualifications reach 60.0%, 29.9 points above national. The main trade-offs are a $1,572,500 median house price and an 11.4% rental vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Fairfield?
The median house price is $1,572,500. It has fallen 12.6% from the 2022 peak of $1,800,000, and dropped from $1,685,000 over the past year. Weekly rent averages $369 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the stress line.
What schools are in Fairfield?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.54 km2 Fairfield boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 60.0%, which is 29.9 points above the national figure.
Is Fairfield safe?
Fairfield recorded 537 offences, a rate of 82.2 per 1,000 residents. The mix skews to property crime: 382 were property and deception offences against just 85 crimes against the person, so the risk profile leans toward theft rather than violence, typical of an inner suburb.
Is Fairfield good for property investment?
Rent of $369 a week against a $1,572,500 median gives a gross yield near 1.2%, very low, and the 11.4% vacancy rate signals apartment softness. With 42.3% of residents renting and overseas migration of about 672 a year supporting demand, returns depend on capital growth more than yield.
How is Fairfield's population changing?
The wider area grows about 0.67% a year, around 129 people, with a 8.3% rise over 10 years. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.2 points and the young-adult share down 4.0 points. Overseas migration of about 672 a year is the only positive driver, offsetting a net internal outflow of 495.
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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