Fairfield vs Canley Vale

In Fairfield, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Canley Vale, most households own their home. On these figures, Fairfield tends to suit 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

Canley Vale

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 8)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 79/100)
  • But Fairfield has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Canley Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 37%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Canley Vale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $365/wk)
  • But Fairfield has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 43%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 74/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (38 min vs 45 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairfield

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (22 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (60% vs 47%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 74/100)
  • But Canley Vale carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fairfield Canley Vale
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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
Walkability 94 / 74
Fairfield — Walkability: 94/100 Canley Vale — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 21 / 42
Fairfield — Safety: 21/100 Canley Vale — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Canley Vale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield has more residents (18,596 vs 10,300); Canley Vale has higher household incomes ($69,160 vs $56,784).

Fairfield Canley Vale
Population 18,596
+45% vs other
 10,300
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +0.8%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $56,784/yr $69,160/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk
+10% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairfield Canley Vale
0-4 5.1% / 4.5%
Fairfield — 0-4: 5.1% Canley Vale — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 11.8% / 12.2%
Fairfield — 5-14: 11.8% Canley Vale — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.3% / 6.8%
Fairfield — 15-19: 6.3% Canley Vale — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 6.4% / 7.3%
Fairfield — 20-24: 6.4% Canley Vale — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 13.1% / 13.1%
Fairfield — 25-34: 13.1% Canley Vale — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.0% / 12.8%
Fairfield — 35-44: 13.0% Canley Vale — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 13.6% / 13.5%
Fairfield — 45-54: 13.6% Canley Vale — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 13.9% / 14.1%
Fairfield — 55-64: 13.9% Canley Vale — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 9.9% / 8.8%
Fairfield — 65-74: 9.9% Canley Vale — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 5.1% / 4.2%
Fairfield — 75-84: 5.1% Canley Vale — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.0% / 2.6%
Fairfield — 85+: 2.0% Canley Vale — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Canley Vale 44.2% couple families
Canley Vale — Couple Families: 44.2% Canley Vale — Lone Person: 24.2% Canley Vale — One Parent Families: 24.6% Canley Vale — Group Household: 4.0% Canley Vale — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield 59.6% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 21.8% Fairfield — Mortgage: 18.5% Fairfield — Renting: 59.6%
Canley Vale 42.7% renting
Canley Vale — Owned Outright: 31.0% Canley Vale — Mortgage: 26.3% Canley Vale — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairfield Canley Vale
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 10.2%
Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Canley Vale — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Certificate III & IV 6.8% / 6.6%
Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.8% Canley Vale — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 5.3%
Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Canley Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 1.8%
Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Canley Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 0.6%
Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Canley Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.2%).

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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
Vietnam 9.8% / 31.3%
Fairfield — Vietnam: 9.8% Canley Vale — Vietnam: 31.3%
Iraq 22.6% / 3.7%
Fairfield — Iraq: 22.6% Canley Vale — Iraq: 3.7%
China 2.7% / 4.5%
Fairfield — China: 2.7% Canley Vale — China: 4.5%
Philippines 1.6% / 1.4%
Fairfield — Philippines: 1.6% Canley Vale — Philippines: 1.4%
Lebanon 1.5% / —
Fairfield — Lebanon: 1.5% Canley Vale — Lebanon: not among its largest
Thailand — / 1.3%
Fairfield — Thailand: not among its largest Canley Vale — Thailand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield 40.0% houses
Fairfield — Houses: 40.0% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 46.6% Fairfield — Townhouses: 13.4%
Canley Vale 53.3% houses
Canley Vale — Houses: 53.3% Canley Vale — Flats / Apartments: 29.5% Canley Vale — Townhouses: 17.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Fairfield Canley Vale
Median house price $1,300,000 $1,350,000
Median unit price $445,500 $455,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 89 sales
 25 days
from 52 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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
1 bed $321K / $360K
Fairfield — 1 bed: $321K (12 sales) Canley Vale — 1 bed: $360K (6 sales)

12 vs 6 sales

2 bed $445K / $455K
Fairfield — 2 bed: $445K (123 sales) Canley Vale — 2 bed: $455K (34 sales)

123 vs 34 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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
2 bed $906K / $1.45M
Fairfield — 2 bed: $906K (13 sales) Canley Vale — 2 bed: $1.45M (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $1.16M
Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.2M (46 sales) Canley Vale — 3 bed: $1.16M (24 sales)

46 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.4M
Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.34M (25 sales) Canley Vale — 4 bed: $1.4M (18 sales)

25 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.44M / $1.48M
Fairfield — 5 bed: $1.44M (32 sales) Canley Vale — 5 bed: $1.48M (17 sales)

32 vs 17 sales

6 bed $1.52M / $1.66M
Fairfield — 6 bed: $1.52M (5 sales) Canley Vale — 6 bed: $1.66M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Fairfield Canley Vale
Residential 79% 72%
Parks and recreation 5% 10%
Environmental 8% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 5%
Commercial 1% 2%
Industrial 1%
same for both
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

Fairfield Canley Vale
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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
Houses 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.24M
 3.3%
$720/wk on $1.12M
Units 5.6%
$500/wk on $461K
 5.2%
$455/wk on $454K

Ranking within NSW

Fairfield Canley Vale
House price Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Schools Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield is more walkable (94 vs 74); Canley Vale scores higher overall (63 vs 50).

Fairfield Canley Vale
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 63/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more crime risk (79 vs 58).

Fairfield Canley Vale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 Moderate
58/100
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 12
within 5 km
 17
within 5 km

Schools

Fairfield Canley Vale
Inside the suburb 8 4
Rated above peers 2 4
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.7 km
 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 3.6%

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

Schools in Canley Vale

  • Canley Vale High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Canley Vale Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lansvale Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Pal Buddhist School Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fairfield Canley Vale
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 19
Parks & reserves 8 16
Childcare 13 9
GPs 22 2
Pharmacies 9 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 5 9

Mobility

Fairfield Canley Vale
Walkability score 94/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 31.2 km 33 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 38 min 45 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 336.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 89.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2165
 0.8%
postcode 2166
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2165
 30
postcode 2166

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.

Fairfield Canley Vale
Car (driver) 54.9% / 56.9%
Fairfield — Car (driver): 54.9% Canley Vale — Car (driver): 56.9%
Worked from Home 27.8% / 27.1%
Fairfield — Worked from Home: 27.8% Canley Vale — Worked from Home: 27.1%
Train 7.4% / 7.2%
Fairfield — Train: 7.4% Canley Vale — Train: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.3%
Fairfield — Car (passenger): 5.8% Canley Vale — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 2.5% / 1.8%
Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.5% Canley Vale — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.9%).

Setting

Fairfield Canley Vale
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.3 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 21.0 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fairfield Canley Vale
Connectivity score 67/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
8,391 premises
 6%
3,630 premises

Climate

Fairfield Canley Vale
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)

Fairfield Canley Vale
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fairfield

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Urban

Canley Vale

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks River Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Smithfield Fairfield vs Fairfield West Fairfield vs Fairfield Heights Fairfield vs Fairfield East Fairfield vs Carramar Fairfield vs Yennora

Other comparisons with Canley Vale

Canley Vale vs Cabramatta Canley Vale vs Fairfield West Canley Vale vs Canley Heights Canley Vale vs Carramar Canley Vale vs Lansvale
Full data on Fairfield Full data on Canley Vale
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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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