Aireys Inlet vs Fairhaven

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Aireys Inlet, about half of households are people living alone. In Fairhaven, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Fairhaven tends to suit couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Aireys Inlet has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • Fairhaven is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 48%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Aireys Inlet has cheaper land ($700,000 vs $1,970,000)
  • Fairhaven leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Aireys Inlet

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (124.6 km vs 126.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Fairhaven

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.8% vs 22.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Walkability 0 / 5
Aireys Inlet — Walkability: 0/100 Fairhaven — Walkability: 5/100
Safety 85 / 81
Aireys Inlet — Safety: 85/100 Fairhaven — Safety: 81/100
Low fire risk 12 / 7
Aireys Inlet — Low fire risk: 12/100 Fairhaven — Low fire risk: 7/100
Low flood risk 72 / 24
Aireys Inlet — Low flood risk: 72/100 Fairhaven — Low flood risk: 24/100

Demographics

Aireys Inlet has more residents (979 vs 390); Fairhaven has higher household incomes ($105,196 vs $85,384).

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Population 979
+60% vs other
 390
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.1% +31.8%
Median age 57 56
Median household income $85,384/yr $105,196/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+3% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
0-4 2.2% / 2.1%
Aireys Inlet — 0-4: 2.2% Fairhaven — 0-4: 2.1%
5-14 8.4% / 10.0%
Aireys Inlet — 5-14: 8.4% Fairhaven — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 4.9% / 3.6%
Aireys Inlet — 15-19: 4.9% Fairhaven — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 2.3% / 4.4%
Aireys Inlet — 20-24: 2.3% Fairhaven — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 6.0% / 5.9%
Aireys Inlet — 25-34: 6.0% Fairhaven — 25-34: 5.9%
35-44 7.6% / 7.2%
Aireys Inlet — 35-44: 7.6% Fairhaven — 35-44: 7.2%
45-54 13.8% / 14.6%
Aireys Inlet — 45-54: 13.8% Fairhaven — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 22.8% / 23.8%
Aireys Inlet — 55-64: 22.8% Fairhaven — 55-64: 23.8%
65-74 21.3% / 19.0%
Aireys Inlet — 65-74: 21.3% Fairhaven — 65-74: 19.0%
75-84 6.9% / 9.0%
Aireys Inlet — 75-84: 6.9% Fairhaven — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 2.9% / 1.3%
Aireys Inlet — 85+: 2.9% Fairhaven — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Aireys Inlet 48.7% lone person
Aireys Inlet — Lone Person: 48.7% Aireys Inlet — Couple Families: 33.3% Aireys Inlet — One Parent Families: 14.5% Aireys Inlet — Group Household: 1.7% Aireys Inlet — Other Families: 1.7%
Fairhaven 42.9% lone person
Fairhaven — Lone Person: 42.9% Fairhaven — Couple Families: 48.4% Fairhaven — One Parent Families: 8.8% Fairhaven — Group Household: 0.0% Fairhaven — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Aireys Inlet 13.4% renting
Aireys Inlet — Owned Outright: 58.9% Aireys Inlet — Mortgage: 27.7% Aireys Inlet — Renting: 13.4%
Fairhaven 5.3% renting
Fairhaven — Owned Outright: 62.5% Fairhaven — Mortgage: 32.2% Fairhaven — Renting: 5.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Bachelor Degree 24.1% / 24.4%
Aireys Inlet — Bachelor Degree: 24.1% Fairhaven — Bachelor Degree: 24.4%
Certificate III & IV 10.4% / 11.5%
Aireys Inlet — Certificate III & IV: 10.4% Fairhaven — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Postgraduate Degree 9.3% / 11.8%
Aireys Inlet — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3% Fairhaven — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 10.0%
Aireys Inlet — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Fairhaven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.9% / 5.6%
Aireys Inlet — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.9% Fairhaven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.4%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
England 3.1% / 3.8%
Aireys Inlet — England: 3.1% Fairhaven — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.8%
Aireys Inlet — New Zealand: 1.6% Fairhaven — New Zealand: 0.8%
Germany 0.6% / 1.5%
Aireys Inlet — Germany: 0.6% Fairhaven — Germany: 1.5%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.8%
Aireys Inlet — Scotland: 0.3% Fairhaven — Scotland: 0.8%
South Africa — / 0.8%
Aireys Inlet — South Africa: not among its largest Fairhaven — South Africa: 0.8%
China 0.4% / —
Aireys Inlet — China: 0.4% Fairhaven — China: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.4% / —
Aireys Inlet — Netherlands: 0.4% Fairhaven — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Aireys Inlet 95.5% houses
Aireys Inlet — Houses: 95.5% Aireys Inlet — Flats / Apartments: 3.2% Aireys Inlet — Townhouses: 1.2%
Fairhaven 100.0% houses
Fairhaven — Houses: 100.0% Fairhaven — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Fairhaven — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Median house price $1,345,000 $1,325,000
Median unit price $860,000 —
Median land price $700,000 $1,970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 104 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Fairhaven has more land zoned for conservation (56% vs 12%).

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Parks and recreation 77% 31%
Environmental 12% 56%
Residential 7% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
New dwellings approved 300
across Surf Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +57%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
House price Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Income Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC

Liveability

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Grade C —
Score 49/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Fairhaven carries more flood risk (76 vs 28).

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Bushfire High
88/100
 High
93/100
Crime Low
15/100
 Low
19/100
Flood Low
28/100
 High
76/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
42/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Aireys Inlet

  • Aireys Inlet Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Fairhaven

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Beaches 4 0
Waterways 14 3

Mobility

Fairhaven sits further from the CBD (126.6 km vs 124.6 km).

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Walkability score 0/100 5/100
Distance to Melbourne 124.6 km 126.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 106 min 110 min
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3231
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3231
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Car (driver) 47.4% / 49.4%
Aireys Inlet — Car (driver): 47.4% Fairhaven — Car (driver): 49.4%
Worked from Home 45.5% / 50.6%
Aireys Inlet — Worked from Home: 45.5% Fairhaven — Worked from Home: 50.6%
Walked Only 4.5% / —
Aireys Inlet — Walked Only: 4.5% Fairhaven — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 2.6% / —
Aireys Inlet — Car (passenger): 2.6% Fairhaven — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.6%).

Setting

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Elevation 86 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.5 km
2.5 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Connectivity score 68/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
1,124 premises
 57%
544 premises

Climate

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Annual rainfall 599 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Average residential rate $2,314/yr
same for both
Council Surf Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Division Wannon
same for both
Member Dan Tehan
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Aireys Inlet Fairhaven
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Aireys Inlet

Acreage Coastal Premium Retirees River

Fairhaven

Acreage Coastal Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet vs Anglesea Aireys Inlet vs Moggs Creek Aireys Inlet vs Wensleydale

Other comparisons with Fairhaven

Fairhaven vs Moggs Creek
Full data on Aireys Inlet Full data on Fairhaven
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or