Carramar vs Fairfield

In Carramar, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Fairfield, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Units cost more in Fairfield: a median of $446,000, against $385,000 in Carramar, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Carramar tends to suit people living alone, while Fairfield suits renters.

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

Fairfield

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (13 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 56%)

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

First-home buyers

Carramar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($385,000 vs $445,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,130,000 vs $1,300,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Carramar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $365/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 33%)
  • But Fairfield has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 49%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 61/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (22 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 61/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Carramar Fairfield
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.

Carramar Fairfield
Walkability 61 / 94
Carramar — Walkability: 61/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 25 / 21
Carramar — Safety: 25/100 Fairfield — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carramar — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield has more residents (18,596 vs 3,475); Fairfield rents higher ($365/wk vs $300/wk).

Carramar Fairfield
Population 3,475 18,596
+435% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.1% +2.8%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $55,796/yr $56,784/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $365/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carramar Fairfield
0-4 5.2% / 5.1%
Carramar — 0-4: 5.2% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.1% / 11.8%
Carramar — 5-14: 12.1% Fairfield — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.7% / 6.3%
Carramar — 15-19: 5.7% Fairfield — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.2% / 6.4%
Carramar — 20-24: 6.2% Fairfield — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 13.8% / 13.1%
Carramar — 25-34: 13.8% Fairfield — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 12.5% / 13.0%
Carramar — 35-44: 12.5% Fairfield — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.2% / 13.6%
Carramar — 45-54: 13.2% Fairfield — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 12.2% / 13.9%
Carramar — 55-64: 12.2% Fairfield — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 9.9% / 9.9%
Carramar — 65-74: 9.9% Fairfield — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.2% / 5.1%
Carramar — 75-84: 5.2% Fairfield — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 3.7% / 2.0%
Carramar — 85+: 3.7% Fairfield — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carramar 34.2% couple families
Carramar — Couple Families: 34.2% Carramar — Lone Person: 38.1% Carramar — One Parent Families: 21.8% Carramar — Group Household: 3.8% Carramar — Other Families: 2.0%
Fairfield 44.0% couple families
Fairfield — Couple Families: 44.0% Fairfield — Lone Person: 27.3% Fairfield — One Parent Families: 22.9% Fairfield — Group Household: 2.9% Fairfield — Other Families: 2.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carramar 49.2% renting
Carramar — Owned Outright: 23.9% Carramar — Mortgage: 26.9% Carramar — Renting: 49.2%
Fairfield 59.6% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 21.8% Fairfield — Mortgage: 18.5% Fairfield — Renting: 59.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Carramar Fairfield
Vietnam 18.0% / 9.8%
Carramar — Vietnam: 18.0% Fairfield — Vietnam: 9.8%
Iraq 3.5% / 22.6%
Carramar — Iraq: 3.5% Fairfield — Iraq: 22.6%
China 3.7% / 2.7%
Carramar — China: 3.7% Fairfield — China: 2.7%
Lebanon 2.6% / 1.5%
Carramar — Lebanon: 2.6% Fairfield — Lebanon: 1.5%
Philippines 2.1% / 1.6%
Carramar — Philippines: 2.1% Fairfield — Philippines: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

Qualifications

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

Carramar Fairfield
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 8.1%
Carramar — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 8.4% / 6.8%
Carramar — Certificate III & IV: 8.4% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 5.9%
Carramar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.6%
Carramar — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 0.6%
Carramar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carramar 57.3% flats / apartments
Carramar — Flats / Apartments: 57.3% Carramar — Houses: 40.4% Carramar — Townhouses: 2.3%
Fairfield 46.6% flats / apartments
Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 46.6% Fairfield — Houses: 40.0% Fairfield — Townhouses: 13.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Carramar Fairfield
Median house price $1,130,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price $385,000 $445,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 11 sales
 23 days
from 89 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carramar Fairfield
2 bed $945K / $906K
Carramar — 2 bed: $945K (6 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $906K (13 sales)

6 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.1M / $1.2M
Carramar — 3 bed: $1.1M (11 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.2M (46 sales)

11 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1.19M / $1.34M
Carramar — 4 bed: $1.19M (6 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.34M (25 sales)

6 vs 25 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carramar Fairfield
1 bed $320K / $321K
Carramar — 1 bed: $320K (16 sales) Fairfield — 1 bed: $321K (12 sales)

16 vs 12 sales

2 bed $400K / $445K
Carramar — 2 bed: $400K (35 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $445K (123 sales)

35 vs 123 sales

3 bed $505K / $535K
Carramar — 3 bed: $505K (7 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $535K (17 sales)

7 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Carramar Fairfield
Residential 67% 79%
Environmental 13% 8%
Parks and recreation 11% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Commercial 2% 1%
Industrial 0% 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

Carramar Fairfield
New dwellings approved 1,095
across Fairfield
same for both
Approvals change year on year +29%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Carramar Fairfield
Houses — 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.24M
Units — 5.6%
$500/wk on $461K

Ranking within NSW

Carramar Fairfield
House price Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 58% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield is more walkable (94 vs 61); Fairfield scores higher overall (50 vs 44).

Carramar Fairfield
Grade C B
Score 44/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Carramar Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 High
79/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Carramar Fairfield
Inside the suburb 0 8
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.2 km
 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 2.5%

Schools in Carramar

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

Schools in Fairfield

  • Fairfield Heights Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Fairfield High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Fairvale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Patrician Brothers' College Fairfield Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Fairfield Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carramar Fairfield
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 5
Parks & reserves 6 8
Childcare 0 13
GPs 0 22
Pharmacies 0 9
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Carramar Fairfield
Walkability score 61/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 30.3 km 31.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 38 min
same for both
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 34.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 336.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2163
 0.4%
postcode 2165
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 2163
 27
postcode 2165

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.

Carramar Fairfield
Car (driver) 60.8% / 54.9%
Carramar — Car (driver): 60.8% Fairfield — Car (driver): 54.9%
Worked from Home 23.2% / 27.8%
Carramar — Worked from Home: 23.2% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 27.8%
Train 10.2% / 7.4%
Carramar — Train: 10.2% Fairfield — Train: 7.4%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 5.8%
Carramar — Car (passenger): 3.2% Fairfield — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Walked Only 1.5% / 2.5%
Carramar — Walked Only: 1.5% Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.8%).

Setting

Carramar Fairfield
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.8 km
1.7 km to a named beach
 21.3 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Carramar Fairfield
Connectivity score 75/100 67/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
1,511 premises
 6%
8,391 premises

Climate

Carramar Fairfield
Annual rainfall 909 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Carramar Fairfield
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Carramar Fairfield
Average residential rate $990/yr
same for both
Council Fairfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Carramar Fairfield
Division Fowler Mcmahon
Member Dai Le Chris Bowen
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Carramar Fairfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carramar

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks River Trains Transport Hub Urban

Fairfield

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carramar

Carramar vs Canley Vale Carramar vs Villawood Carramar vs Fairfield East Carramar vs Lansvale

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Smithfield Fairfield vs Fairfield West Fairfield vs Canley Vale Fairfield vs Fairfield Heights Fairfield vs Fairfield East Fairfield vs Yennora
Full data on Carramar Full data on Fairfield
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.

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