Fairfield West
Detached homes dominate Fairfield West, with 88.4% of dwellings separate houses and 12,981 residents across 3.22 sq km. Its migrant-majority profile is pronounced: 59.5% of residents were born overseas, 37.9 percentage points above the national figure. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national, while the 3.4-person average household is 0.9 above national. Household income sits at the 42.2 percentile, and 27.5% have university qualifications, 2.6 points below national. For buyers comparing Fairfield West with Fairfield or Smithfield, the main distinction is its established, detached housing base and larger family households. That pattern reflects a suburban area where 53.6% of families are couples with children.
Population
12,981
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,428/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
92
Fairfield West suits buyers prioritising detached space, but affordability needs close checking because the typical monthly mortgage is $2,000 and mortgage stress is flagged at 32.3% of income. Renting costs $440 per week, while 35.8% of households rent, slightly higher than the 34.4% who own outright. Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes, which account for 50.8% of stock, well above the 11.4% share of 2-bedroom dwellings. Separate houses make up 88.4%, compared with 4.5% apartments, so buyers seeking low-maintenance or apartment living will find a smaller pool. The detached format supports family use because 35.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
For Buyers
Fairfield West suits buyers prioritising detached space, but affordability needs close checking because the typical monthly mortgage is $2,000 and mortgage stress is flagged at 32.3% of income. Renting costs $440 per week, while 35.8% of households rent, slightly higher than the 34.4% who own outright. Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes, which account for 50.8% of stock, well above the 11.4% share of 2-bedroom dwellings. Separate houses make up 88.4%, compared with 4.5% apartments, so buyers seeking low-maintenance or apartment living will find a smaller pool. The detached format supports family use because 35.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
For Investors
The rental case is supported by a substantial tenant base, with 35.8% of households renting compared with 34.4% owning outright. Weekly rent is $440 and the vacancy rate is 4.2%, so investors should assess property condition and tenant appeal rather than rely on occupancy alone. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support demand for practical family housing, while 88.4% separate houses provide a clear product focus. Development activity is material, with 90 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwellings and a dwelling house with a pool. Rent growth of 26.6% is higher than the 0.67% annual population trend, improving the income story but also signalling rising affordability pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
501
Last 12 Months
92
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fairfield West
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Fairfield West has a strong migrant-majority identity: 59.5% of residents were born overseas, 37.9 percentage points above national, with Vietnamese ancestry recorded for 2,298 people and Chinese ancestry for 1,147. Arabic is the leading listed language at 725 speakers, while Christianity has 7,541 adherents and Buddhism 1,884. Average household size is 3.4 people, 0.9 above national, because couples with children represent 53.6% of families and one-parent families account for 21.3%. University attainment is 27.5%, 2.6 points below national. Compared with a search centred on Fairfield or Smithfield, buyers should weigh this larger-household pattern alongside the suburb's aging trajectory, with the young share down 4.0 points and the senior share up 5.2 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.4%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Fairfield West is structurally detached and family-sized. Separate houses account for 88.4% of dwellings, higher than the 7.1% semi-detached share and far above the 4.5% apartment share. The largest bedroom category is 3 bedrooms at 50.8%, followed by 4 or more bedrooms at 35.9%, so the stock is better aligned with families than with compact singles housing. Tenure is relatively mixed: 35.8% rent, higher than the 34.4% owned outright, while 28.7% hold a mortgage. That split helps explain why both rent stress at 30.8% and mortgage stress at 32.3% are flagged. With weekly rent at $440 and a typical monthly mortgage of $2,000, affordability remains more constrained than the detached streetscape may suggest.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $440.
$615
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $670 · units $560
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$476
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
157
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.8% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.6%
Couples with children
23.2%
Couples, no children
21.3%
Single parent
3,290
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Fairfield West's largest listed industry at 16.9%, employing 319 people, followed by Construction and Education at 9.2% each, Manufacturing at 8.4%, and Retail at 7.8%. The occupational mix is practical and service-based, led by Machinery and Drivers at 567 people, Professionals at 560, Clerical and Administration at 547, Labourers at 493, and Trades at 456. Unemployment is 8.0%, participation is 38.9%, and the full-time rate is 51.1%, indicating a workforce with both employment capacity and labour-market pressure. Household income is at the 42.2 percentile. Socioeconomic measures are below national benchmarks, with IEO at decile 2 and IER, IRSD and IRSAD all at decile 1. The contrast between a leading healthcare sector and low socioeconomic deciles reflects employment diversity without uniformly high household resources.
Unemployment
8.0%
Labour Force
4,031
Unemployed
324
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.1%
Part-time
29.7%
Participation
38.9%
Employed
3,707
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.5%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
59.5%
Dwellings
3,558
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 63.2% of residents drive, higher than the 2.3% using public transport and the 0.8% walking or cycling, while 28.9% work from home. That pattern reflects Fairfield West's detached layout and 4,034.7 people per sq km density, making access to parking and road connections important. Three local government schools provide practical coverage across one primary and two secondary settings, including a sports-focused secondary option. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Socioeconomic access is a consideration, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 1, below national benchmarks. For safety decisions, use current local police information and inspect streets at different times, as no suburb-level crime rate is available in the supplied figures.
Drive
63.2%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
28.9%
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+129 people/yr)
EstablishedFairfield West is tracking as an established area, with an annual trend of 0.67% and population change across the wider area of 8.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which aligns with the suburb's 59.5% overseas-born population. The trajectory is Aging: the young share has fallen 4.0 points while the senior share has risen 5.2 points. Compared with the 0.67% annual trend, rent growth of 26.6% has been much higher, creating stronger pressure on household budgets. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 20 and a separate shift score of 26. The area recovered from a 4.3% COVID dip with 4.2% recovery, suggesting resilience rather than a rapid redevelopment cycle.
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 West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairfield West a good suburb to live in?
Fairfield West can suit households seeking detached space and established schooling, with 88.4% separate houses and 53.6% of families being couples with children. Car use is high at 63.2%, while IRSAD is at decile 1, so transport needs and household budget should be considered.
What is the median house price in Fairfield West?
A current median house price is not stated for Fairfield West. The suburb has 88.4% separate houses, with 50.8% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 35.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Compare recent sales by dwelling type and street before setting a budget.
What schools are in Fairfield West?
Fairfield West has Fairfield West Public School, Fairvale High School and Westfields Sports High School. The local mix includes 1 government primary school and 2 government secondary schools. Confirm enrolment zones and program eligibility for the exact address before purchasing.
Is Fairfield West safe?
A current safety decision should use NSW Police crime information and an inspection at different times of day, because no suburb-level crime rate is stated. Fairfield West has 12,981 residents and a density of 4,034.7 people per sq km, so conditions can vary between streets and activity areas.
Is Fairfield West good for property investment?
Fairfield West has a sizeable rental base at 35.8%, weekly rent of $440 and a 4.2% vacancy rate. There were 90 development applications in 12 months, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Investors should weigh tenant demand against 30.8% rent stress and local competition.
How is Fairfield West's population changing?
Growth across the wider area is running at 0.67% annually, with 8.3% population change over 10 years and overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging: the young share is down 4.0 points and the senior share is up 5.2 points.
What languages are spoken in Fairfield West?
Arabic is the leading listed language, spoken by 725 people, followed by Khmer at 152, Cantonese at 99 and Mandarin at 92. The overseas-born share is 59.5%, which is 37.9 percentage points above national and supports a broad range of language services.
What development is occurring in Fairfield West?
There were 90 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include secondary dwellings and a dwelling house with a swimming pool. This activity is relevant to investors and neighbours because additions can change rental supply, parking demand and the character of individual streets.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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