Fairlight
Despite a $2,410,000 median house price, only 26.4% of dwellings in Fairlight are separate houses, with apartments making up 50.9% across a dense 1.17 km2 footprint at 5,256 residents per km2. Household income sits in the 98.6th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, the top advantage tier on three of four SEIFA indexes. University qualifications reach 61.2%, which is 31.1 points above the national figure. The median age of 39 runs 1.0 year below national, and unusually for a premium pocket the population has grown 20.7% over the past decade rather than stagnating.
Population
6,141
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,251/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
73
Median House
$2.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,410,000 median places Fairlight among Sydney's pricier markets, and the price rose 9.0% from $2,280,000 in 2024 to $2,485,000 in 2025. The stock is apartment-heavy: separate houses are only 26.4% of dwellings against 50.9% apartments and 22.4% semi-detached, so a freestanding house competes for scarce supply and commands a premium. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 38.1% and two-bedroom at 33.9%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 18.3%, reflecting a market built around couples and small families rather than large households. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 98.6th percentile. Owners outright (34.1%) and mortgage holders (30.2%) together hold roughly two thirds of dwellings.
For Buyers
The $2,410,000 median places Fairlight among Sydney's pricier markets, and the price rose 9.0% from $2,280,000 in 2024 to $2,485,000 in 2025. The stock is apartment-heavy: separate houses are only 26.4% of dwellings against 50.9% apartments and 22.4% semi-detached, so a freestanding house competes for scarce supply and commands a premium. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 38.1% and two-bedroom at 33.9%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 18.3%, reflecting a market built around couples and small families rather than large households. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,467, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 98.6th percentile. Owners outright (34.1%) and mortgage holders (30.2%) together hold roughly two thirds of dwellings.
For Investors
A 35.7% renter share and weekly rent of $720 give landlords a deep tenant pool, but yields are thin. Against the $2,410,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.6%, low even by inner-Sydney standards, so the case rests on capital growth rather than income. The 8.3% vacancy rate is elevated and reflects the apartment-dominant stock at 50.9% of dwellings. Demand support is real: the population grew 20.7% over the decade and forecasts project 1.51% annual growth, driven primarily by net internal migration of about 110 residents a year against 18 from overseas. Development is moderate at 70 applications in 12 months, including dual occupancy and residential flat works rather than large new supply, which keeps detached-house scarcity intact and underpins prices.
Development Activity
Total DAs
372
Last 12 Months
73
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+30.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, yet the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 3.4 points while the working-age share fell 3.1 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 33.9%, which is 12.3 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,848), Irish (945) and Scottish (790), and the top non-English languages are French (40), Portuguese (27) and German (25), an unusually European mix for Sydney. University qualifications at 61.2% run 31.1 points above national, among the highest you will find. Average household size is 2.4, which is 0.1 below national, consistent with a profile where couples with no children make up 30.5% of families. Christianity (2,556) is the dominant religion, with Buddhism (38) a distant second.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
26.4%
Houses
22.4%
Townhouse
50.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits roughly into thirds: 34.1% own outright, 30.2% carry a mortgage and 35.7% rent. The stock is 50.9% apartments and 22.4% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at only 26.4%, which keeps detached-house prices elevated through scarcity. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 38.1% and two-bedroom 33.9%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are 18.3%. The median house price rose from $2,280,000 to $2,485,000 across 2024-2025, a 9.0% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 24.6% and rent-to-income at 22.1% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, a comfortable position that reflects how strong incomes are: household earnings rank in the 98.6th percentile nationally, so even steep purchase prices remain serviceable for owners already in the market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$720
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,491
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.3%
Unoccupied
219
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
4,757
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is concentrated in high-paying knowledge sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 24.1% (674 workers), Healthcare follows at 12.3% (344) and Finance at 11.8% (329), with Education at 8.8% and Construction at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals (1,375) and Managers (838) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.5% and the full-time employment rate is 68.3%. Participation reads 64.9%, held down by 1,344 residents not in the labour force as the profile ages. Real incomes grew 10.8% over the decade. One anomaly: the IER score for economic resources sits at decile 7 against decile 10 on the other three indexes, because the 35.7% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even where earnings are high.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
15,928
Unemployed
514
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.3%
Part-time
28.2%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
3,185
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.2%
Postgraduate
18.4%
Born Overseas
33.9%
Dwellings
2,401
Transport to Work
Fairlight leans on private cars, with 76.2% driving against 7.1% using public transport and 13.1% walking or cycling, higher active-transport use than many car-dependent suburbs given the compact 1.17 km2 layout. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 20.5% and only 2.1% (124 people) need daily assistance despite the aging profile. Rent-to-income at 22.1% keeps tenants comfortable. No schools are recorded inside the boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for a high-density pocket housing 6,141 residents at 5,256 per km2.
Drive
76.2%
Public Transport
7.1%
Walk / Cycle
13.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.51%/yr
(+160 people/yr)
EstablishedFairlight is growing steadily for a built-out suburb: forecasts project 1.51% annual growth, about 160 residents a year, and the population has already climbed 20.7% over the past decade. The medium projection lifts the population from 10,805 in 2026 toward 11,603 by 2031. The primary driver is net internal migration of roughly 110 residents a year, well above the 18 added through overseas migration, so the growth is Sydneysiders relocating rather than new arrivals from abroad. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score around 24 to 28, supported by population up 29% since 2011 and steady internal inflow. Affordability has held stable, easing slightly from 37.4% in 2011 to 35.7% in 2021, a small improvement against a high base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+110
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +29% since 2011, Net internal migration +110/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fairlight compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairlight a good suburb to live in?
Fairlight ranks in decile 10 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 98.6th percentile. University qualifications reach 61.2%, which is 31.1 points above national. The main trade-off is a high $2,410,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in Fairlight?
The median house price is $2,410,000, among Sydney's higher markets. Prices rose 9.0% from $2,280,000 in 2024 to $2,485,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $720 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $3,467, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Fairlight?
No schools are recorded inside the compact 1.17 km2 Fairlight boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 61.2%, which is 31.1 points above the national figure.
Is Fairlight safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Fairlight in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 2.1% of its 6,141 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Fairlight good for property investment?
Rent of $720 a week against a $2,410,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.6%, low for Sydney. The 8.3% vacancy rate is elevated given 50.9% apartments. But population grew 20.7% over the decade and forecasts project 1.51% annual growth, so returns depend on capital growth rather than yield.
How is Fairlight's population changing?
The population has grown 20.7% over the past decade and forecasts project 1.51% annual growth, about 160 residents a year. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.4 points and the working-age share down 3.1 points, driven mainly by net internal migration of about 110 residents a year.
What languages are spoken in Fairlight?
About 33.9% of residents were born overseas, 12.3 points above the national figure. English dominates, with French (40 speakers), Portuguese (27), German (25) and Italian (25) the most common non-English languages, an unusually European mix for Sydney rather than the typical Asian-language profile.
How much development is happening in Fairlight?
There were 70 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, moderate for a 1.17 km2 suburb. Many involve dual occupancy, semi-detached dwellings and residential flat works rather than large new supply, consistent with a built-out area growing at 1.51% annually mostly through internal migration.
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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