Clifton Hill vs Fairfield

In both, most households own their home. In Fairfield, about half of households are people living alone. Clifton Hill is closer to the city centre: 5.6 km, against 6.9 km. On these figures, Clifton Hill tends to suit share households, while Fairfield suits people living alone.

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

Clifton Hill

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 6)
  • But Fairfield has more separate houses rather than flats (44% vs 24%)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($483,250 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

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

Downsizers and retirees

Clifton Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 56%)

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

Investors

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Clifton Hill 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.

Clifton Hill 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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Walkability 89 / 96
Clifton Hill — Walkability: 89/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 19 / 27
Clifton Hill — Safety: 19/100 Fairfield — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clifton Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 30
Clifton Hill — Low flood risk: 56/100 Fairfield — Low flood risk: 30/100

Demographics

Clifton Hill rents higher ($550/wk vs $369/wk); Clifton Hill has higher household incomes ($143,260 vs $102,284).

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Population 6,606
+1% vs other
 6,535
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% -0.4%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $143,260/yr
+29% vs other
 $102,284/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+33% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
0-4 5.6% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.4% / 10.2%
Clifton Hill — 5-14: 10.4% Fairfield — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 3.1% / 4.3%
Clifton Hill — 15-19: 3.1% Fairfield — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.7% / 5.8%
Clifton Hill — 20-24: 4.7% Fairfield — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 21.5% / 18.8%
Clifton Hill — 25-34: 21.5% Fairfield — 25-34: 18.8%
35-44 17.2% / 17.0%
Clifton Hill — 35-44: 17.2% Fairfield — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 12.5% / 14.0%
Clifton Hill — 45-54: 12.5% Fairfield — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.6% / 11.5%
Clifton Hill — 55-64: 10.6% Fairfield — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 9.3% / 7.6%
Clifton Hill — 65-74: 9.3% Fairfield — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 3.9% / 4.0%
Clifton Hill — 75-84: 3.9% Fairfield — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 1.3% / 1.8%
Clifton Hill — 85+: 1.3% Fairfield — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.0% lone person
Clifton Hill — Lone Person: 39.0% Clifton Hill — Couple Families: 37.0% Clifton Hill — Group Household: 13.0% Clifton Hill — One Parent Families: 9.2% Clifton Hill — Other Families: 1.8%
Fairfield 49.1% lone person
Fairfield — Lone Person: 49.1% Fairfield — Couple Families: 33.6% Fairfield — Group Household: 6.8% Fairfield — One Parent Families: 9.0% Fairfield — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.7% renting
Clifton Hill — Owned Outright: 29.6% Clifton Hill — Mortgage: 30.7% Clifton Hill — Renting: 39.7%
Fairfield 42.3% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 29.2% Fairfield — Mortgage: 28.5% Fairfield — Renting: 42.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Bachelor Degree 29.1% / 24.9%
Clifton Hill — Bachelor Degree: 29.1% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 12.1%
Clifton Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 6.7%
Clifton Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 6.6%
Clifton Hill — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.6% / 5.5%
Clifton Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.1%).

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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
England 4.3% / 3.2%
Clifton Hill — England: 4.3% Fairfield — England: 3.2%
Greece 1.3% / 2.6%
Clifton Hill — Greece: 1.3% Fairfield — Greece: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.4%
Clifton Hill — New Zealand: 2.5% Fairfield — New Zealand: 1.4%
Italy 0.6% / 1.8%
Clifton Hill — Italy: 0.6% Fairfield — Italy: 1.8%
Malaysia 0.7% / 0.5%
Clifton Hill — Malaysia: 0.7% Fairfield — Malaysia: 0.5%
India — / 0.9%
Clifton Hill — India: not among its largest Fairfield — India: 0.9%
Ireland 0.7% / —
Clifton Hill — Ireland: 0.7% Fairfield — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 50.8% townhouses
Clifton Hill — Townhouses: 50.8% Clifton Hill — Houses: 23.8% Clifton Hill — Flats / Apartments: 25.5%
Fairfield 21.3% townhouses
Fairfield — Townhouses: 21.3% Fairfield — Houses: 43.7% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 35.0%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,662,500
Median unit price $675,000 $483,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 31 sales
 22 days
from 16 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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
1 bed $444K / $385K
Clifton Hill — 1 bed: $444K (24 sales) Fairfield — 1 bed: $385K (47 sales)

24 vs 47 sales

2 bed $755K / $580K
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $755K (23 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $580K (51 sales)

23 vs 51 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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
2 bed $1.28M / $1.61M
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $1.28M (36 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $1.61M (11 sales)

36 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.55M
Clifton Hill — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.55M (25 sales)

42 vs 25 sales

4 bed $2.02M / $1.95M
Clifton Hill — 4 bed: $2.02M (16 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.95M (7 sales)

16 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Residential 53% 36%
Parks and recreation 26% 43%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 12%
Industrial 0% 6%
Commercial 5% 3%
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

Clifton Hill Fairfield
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
same for both
Approvals change year on year +646%
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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Houses 3.3%
$948/wk on $1.5M
 3.2%
$825/wk on $1.32M
Units 4.3%
$608/wk on $735K
 5.8%
$500/wk on $445K

Ranking within VIC

Clifton Hill Fairfield
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools Higher than 26% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC

Liveability

Fairfield scores higher overall (76 vs 65).

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Grade B A
Score 65/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more flood risk (70 vs 44).

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 High
73/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 High
70/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 2.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 3.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.0%

Schools in Clifton Hill

  • Clifton Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Spensley Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary

Schools in Fairfield

  • Fairfield Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 10 35
Parks & reserves 10 6
Childcare 5 6
GPs 3
same for both
Pharmacies 0 5
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Walkability score 89/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 5.6 km 6.9 km
+23% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 16 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 128.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3068
 3.0%
postcode 3078
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3068
 25
postcode 3078

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.

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Worked from Home 56.2% / 50.7%
Clifton Hill — Worked from Home: 56.2% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 50.7%
Car (driver) 26.4% / 33.5%
Clifton Hill — Car (driver): 26.4% Fairfield — Car (driver): 33.5%
Bicycle 6.2% / 4.3%
Clifton Hill — Bicycle: 6.2% Fairfield — Bicycle: 4.3%
Train 4.1% / 5.7%
Clifton Hill — Train: 4.1% Fairfield — Train: 5.7%
Walked Only 3.7% / 2.9%
Clifton Hill — Walked Only: 3.7% Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.2%).

Setting

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 9.1 km

NBN connectivity

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Connectivity score 77/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
3,270 premises
 6%
3,717 premises

Climate

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Clifton Hill Fairfield
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Average residential rate $1,937/yr
same for both
Council Yarra
same for both

Federal electorate

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Division Cooper
same for both
Member Ged Kearney
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clifton Hill Fairfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clifton Hill

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Fairfield

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill vs Northcote Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy North Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy Clifton Hill vs Collingwood Clifton Hill vs Abbotsford

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Northcote Fairfield vs Kew Fairfield vs Thornbury Fairfield vs Abbotsford Fairfield vs Alphington
Full data on Clifton Hill 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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