Fairfield (Vic.)

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According to ABS demographic updates and verification of address files by Districts subsequent to the Census, the suburb of Fairfield (Vic.) is home to approximately 7,166 residents as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 631 people (9.7%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 6,535 people. This shift is calculated from the resident population of 7,151 calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with an additional 118 validated new addresses since the Census. With these figures, the local density stands at 2,145 persons per square kilometer, outstripping the typical national figure analyzed by Districts. The 9.7% expansion rate in the suburb of Fairfield (Vic.) since the 2021 census was greater than the state increase (9.3%) and the country-wide benchmark, establishing the locality as a regional pacesetter. Overseas migration acted as the primary driver of growth, accounting for approximately 76.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

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Fairfield features a workforce with high levels of education, strong representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of 4.2%, and an estimated 4.2% employment growth rate over the previous year, as aggregated by Districts. In March 2026, 4,450 local residents had jobs, while the unemployment rate sat 0.6% below the Greater Melbourne level of 4.8%, and participation in the labor force was relatively standard (75.0% versus 70.2% in Greater Melbourne). Census returns indicate that a high proportion of 49.7% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this may reflect COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

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Fairfield records a median taxpayer income of $66,311 and an average of $98,909 based on the latest postcode-level ATO records compiled by Districts for financial year 2023. These figures place the area in the highest bracket country-wide, contrasting with a median of $57,688 and average of $75,164 for Greater Melbourne. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $72,690 for the median and $108,424 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data shows individual weekly incomes at the 85th percentile nationally ($1,093 weekly). The largest single cohort represents 27.2% of residents (1,949 people) earning between $1,500 - mirroring the regional pattern where fall in this bracket. Local economic strength is underscored by of households earning weekly incomes above which bolsters local consumer spending power. High housing costs absorb of incomes, yet strong overall earnings keep disposable income at the th percentile, while the SEIFA income ranking puts the area in the th decile.

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Residential dwelling types in Fairfield at the time of the latest Census consisted of 43.9% houses and 56.1% alternative types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and other categories, differing from the Melbourne metropolitan split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Fairfield matched the Melbourne metropolitan average of 29.2%, with the remaining dwellings occupied by residents with a mortgage (28.5%) or renting (42.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was higher than the Melbourne metro average at $2,167, while the median weekly rent was $369, compared to metropolitan benchmarks of $2,000 and $390 respectively. Nationally, Fairfield's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families make up 57.1% of all households, consisting of couples with children (25.8%), couples without children (23.0%), and single parent households (6.9%). Non-family households represent the remaining 42.9%, with single-person households at 37.9% and group households at 5.2%. The median household occupancy of 2.2 people is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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Levels of educational attainment in Fairfield are well above regional averages, with 54.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This educational pattern positions the local workforce well for knowledge-intensive sectors. Bachelor degrees represent the largest group at 31.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (15.5%) and graduate diplomas (7.0%). Vocational studies account for 18.6% of qualifications for those aged 15+ – consisting of advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (10.1%).

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An evaluation of public transport options reveals 42 active stops operating in Fairfield, which consist of bus services. These locations are connected by 10 separate routes, which combine to support 2,761 passenger trips each week. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with typical residences situated 133 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, resulting in a workforce that commutes elsewhere; private vehicles are the primary mode of travel at 66%, while 14% use trains and 8% ride bicycles. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per household, which sits below the regional average. A high proportion of 49.7% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

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Fairfield records favorable health indicators under Districts metrics for mortality rates and chronic illnesses, with low rates of common health conditions observed across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 66% of the population (4,712 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

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Fairfield displays a higher degree of cultural diversity than most locations, with 23.4% of its residents born outside Australia and 19.5% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 36.2% of the population. The most distinct variance from broader patterns is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.4% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

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The median age of 37 in Fairfield matches the Greater Melbourne median of 37 and is close to the national figure of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 18.9% compared to Greater Melbourne, while children aged 5 - 14 are less common at 9.1%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has increased its share from 10.1% to 11.4%. By contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.9% to 12.6% and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 10.2% to 9.1%. Looking forward to 2041, age projections indicate notable changes in the demographic makeup, led by the to group which is expected to expand by ( people), increasing to from .

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Fairfield currently has an estimated 343 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 199 children aged 0-2 and 133 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 21% by 2041 (to approximately 415 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 553. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 9.3 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.