Fairfield West
Fairfield West's standout trait is scale within a small footprint: 12,981 residents sit in 3.22 sq km, while households average 3.4 people, which is 0.9 above the national benchmark. Compared with nearby Fairfield and Smithfield, it reads as a house-heavy family area, with 88.4% separate houses and only 4.5% apartments. The overseas-born share is 59.5%, 37.9 percentage points above national, so local demand is shaped by larger migrant households rather than inner-city apartment turnover.
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
82
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are paying for land and family capacity more than density. The median house price is $1,130,000, while the 2025 price series reached $1,170,000 after a 7.1% rise from 2024. Separate houses make up 88.4% of dwellings, far above apartments at 4.5%, and 86.7% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms. Affordability is the pressure point because mortgage costs equal 32.3% of income, while household income sits at the 42.2 percentile, below many Sydney buyer markets.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for land and family capacity more than density. The median house price is $1,130,000, while the 2025 price series reached $1,170,000 after a 7.1% rise from 2024. Separate houses make up 88.4% of dwellings, far above apartments at 4.5%, and 86.7% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms. Affordability is the pressure point because mortgage costs equal 32.3% of income, while household income sits at the 42.2 percentile, below many Sydney buyer markets.
For Investors
Investor appeal is strongest where larger rental households need family homes. Renting covers 36.2% of dwellings, compared with 34.7% owned outright, and the median rent is $440 a week. Vacancy is 4.2%, so rent-setting needs care, but demand is supported because overseas migration averages +672 people a year while internal migration averages -495. The 79 development lodgements in 12 months point to active renewal, and rent growth of 26.6% adds a yield-growth signal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
476
Last 12 Months
82
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fairfield West iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Westfields Sports High School
7-12 · 1538 students
Fairfield West Public School
K-6 · 545 students
Fairvale High School
7-12 · 1320 students
Demographics
Fairfield West is younger and more internationally shaped than the national profile. The median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below national, while 59.5% of residents were born overseas, 37.9 percentage points above national. University attainment is 27.5%, 2.6 points below national, which fits an employment mix with trades, driving, administration and care roles. Vietnamese ancestry counts 2,298 people, Chinese 1,147 and English 1,089; Arabic has 725 speakers, and Christianity, Buddhism and Islam count 7,541, 1,884 and 760 followers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.4%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is detached and owner-occupier leaning, but with a substantial rental layer. Separate houses account for 88.4% of stock compared with 7.1% semi-detached homes and 4.5% apartments, because family-sized blocks remain the dominant format. Ownership is split between 34.7% owned outright, 29.0% mortgaged and 36.2% rented. Prices moved from $1,092,500 in 2024 to $1,170,000 in 2025, a 7.1% lift, with no fall from the $1,170,000 peak. Stress is visible, with rent at 30.8% and mortgage costs at 32.3% of income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$440
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
13.8%
Couples, no children
11,358
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce leans practical and service-based rather than corporate. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.9%, above construction and education at 9.2% each, followed by manufacturing at 8.4% and retail at 7.8%. Occupations are spread across Machinery/Drivers with 567 workers, Professionals with 560 and Clerical/Admin with 547. The unemployment rate is 9.8% and participation is 32.0%, while household income sits at the 42.2 percentile. This matters because lower labour-force attachment limits spending power even when full-time work reaches 63.3% among employed residents.
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
63.3%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
32.0%
Employed
2,995
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.5%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
59.5%
Dwellings
3,558
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for families who want government schools and are comfortable driving. There are 3 local schools, all government, with an ICSEA range from 912 to 967. Westfields Sports High School leads the range with 1,538 enrolments and an ICSEA of 967, while Fairvale High adds another large secondary option with 1,320 enrolments. Transport is the trade-off: 89.0% of commuters drive, compared with only 3.3% using public transport and 1.1% walking or cycling, because the suburb functions more as a car-based residential pocket than a station-centred hub.
Drive
89.0%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+129 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The trend adds an average 0.67% a year, equal to about 129 people annually, with the medium path rising from 19,342 in 2026 to 19,989 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at +672 people a year, offsetting a -495 annual internal outflow, so new arrivals are replacing some households leaving the area. The trajectory is aging, with senior share up 5.2 points and young share down 4.0. Gentrification is still early, with a score of 20 and an Early signs stage.
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 suits larger households wanting detached homes, with 88.4% separate houses and an average household size of 3.4 people. It is less suited to car-free living because 89.0% of commuters drive and only 3.3% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Fairfield West?
The median house price is $1,130,000. The recent price series shows $1,170,000 in 2025, up 7.1% from $1,092,500 in 2024, so buyers should budget for a market that has already reset higher.
What schools are in Fairfield West?
Fairfield West has 3 local government schools: Westfields Sports High School with 1,538 enrolments, Fairfield West Public School with 545, and Fairvale High School with 1,320. ICSEA scores range from 912 to 967.
Is Fairfield West safe?
A reliable suburb crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available, so safety should be checked street by street before buying or renting. The suburb covers 3.22 sq km and has 12,981 residents, making local conditions vary by pocket.
Is Fairfield West good for property investment?
Fairfield West has investment fundamentals in family rentals, with 36.2% of homes rented and a median rent of $440 a week. Vacancy is 4.2%, so investors need conservative leasing assumptions, but 79 recent development lodgements show active renewal.
How is Fairfield West's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 0.67% a year, or about 129 people annually. The medium projection rises from 19,342 in 2026 to 19,989 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration at +672 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Fairfield West?
Fairfield West is highly multilingual, with 59.5% of residents born overseas. Arabic has 725 speakers, Khmer 152, Canton 99, Mandarin 92 and Croatian 68, alongside large Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry groups.
Is there much development happening in Fairfield West?
Yes. There were 79 development lodgements in the past 12 months, including work such as new dwellings, demolition, sheds and pools. That level of activity is consistent with gradual renewal rather than wholesale high-rise change.
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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