Fairfield vs Kew

Fairfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Kew. In both, most households own their home. In Fairfield, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Kew: a median of $2.45 million, against $1.66 million in Fairfield, and rent is higher there too. Fairfield is closer to the city centre: 6.9 km, against 8.4 km. On these figures, Fairfield tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Kew

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,662,500 vs $2,450,000)
  • has cheaper units ($483,250 vs $665,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $476/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

Kew

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)

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 houses (3.2% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Fairfield and Kew 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 Kew
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 Kew
Walkability 96 / 93
Fairfield — Walkability: 96/100 Kew — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 27 / 31
Fairfield — Safety: 27/100 Kew — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kew — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 30 / 43
Fairfield — Low flood risk: 30/100 Kew — Low flood risk: 43/100

Demographics

Kew has more residents (24,499 vs 6,535); Kew rents higher ($476/wk vs $369/wk).

Fairfield Kew
Population 6,535 24,499
+275% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4%
same for both
Median age 37 41
Median household income $102,284/yr $129,844/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $369/wk $476/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairfield Kew
0-4 5.2% / 3.9%
Fairfield — 0-4: 5.2% Kew — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 10.2% / 11.3%
Fairfield — 5-14: 10.2% Kew — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 4.3% / 7.0%
Fairfield — 15-19: 4.3% Kew — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.8% / 7.2%
Fairfield — 20-24: 5.8% Kew — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 18.8% / 12.9%
Fairfield — 25-34: 18.8% Kew — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 17.0% / 11.5%
Fairfield — 35-44: 17.0% Kew — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 14.0% / 14.0%
Fairfield — 45-54: 14.0% Kew — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 11.5% / 12.9%
Fairfield — 55-64: 11.5% Kew — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 7.6% / 10.1%
Fairfield — 65-74: 7.6% Kew — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 4.0% / 6.1%
Fairfield — 75-84: 4.0% Kew — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.8% / 3.2%
Fairfield — 85+: 1.8% Kew — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fairfield 49.1% lone person
Fairfield — Lone Person: 49.1% Fairfield — Couple Families: 33.6% Fairfield — One Parent Families: 9.0% Fairfield — Group Household: 6.8% Fairfield — Other Families: 1.5%
Kew 34.9% lone person
Kew — Lone Person: 34.9% Kew — Couple Families: 43.6% Kew — One Parent Families: 12.7% Kew — Group Household: 7.0% Kew — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield 42.3% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 29.2% Fairfield — Mortgage: 28.5% Fairfield — Renting: 42.3%
Kew 29.4% renting
Kew — Owned Outright: 40.7% Kew — Mortgage: 29.9% Kew — Renting: 29.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairfield Kew
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 27.3%
Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Kew — Bachelor Degree: 27.3%
Postgraduate Degree 12.1% / 13.1%
Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1% Kew — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 7.4%
Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Kew — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 4.4%
Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Kew — Certificate III & IV: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.5% / 3.8%
Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.5% Kew — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.3%).

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 Kew
China 0.8% / 6.6%
Fairfield — China: 0.8% Kew — China: 6.6%
England 3.2% / 2.9%
Fairfield — England: 3.2% Kew — England: 2.9%
Greece 2.6% / 1.0%
Fairfield — Greece: 2.6% Kew — Greece: 1.0%
Italy 1.8% / 1.0%
Fairfield — Italy: 1.8% Kew — Italy: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.4%
Fairfield — New Zealand: 1.4% Kew — New Zealand: 1.4%
India 0.9% / 1.8%
Fairfield — India: 0.9% Kew — India: 1.8%
Malaysia 0.5% / 2.2%
Fairfield — Malaysia: 0.5% Kew — Malaysia: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield 43.7% houses
Fairfield — Houses: 43.7% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 35.0% Fairfield — Townhouses: 21.3%
Kew 50.5% houses
Kew — Houses: 50.5% Kew — Flats / Apartments: 26.0% Kew — Townhouses: 23.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Fairfield Kew
Median house price $1,662,500 $2,450,000
Median unit price $483,250 $665,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 16 sales
 24 days
from 43 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 Kew
1 bed $385K / $451K
Fairfield — 1 bed: $385K (47 sales) Kew — 1 bed: $451K (13 sales)

47 vs 13 sales

2 bed $580K / $665K
Fairfield — 2 bed: $580K (51 sales) Kew — 2 bed: $665K (69 sales)

51 vs 69 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 Kew
2 bed $1.61M / $1.6M
Fairfield — 2 bed: $1.61M (11 sales) Kew — 2 bed: $1.6M (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.55M / $1.8M
Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.55M (25 sales) Kew — 3 bed: $1.8M (22 sales)

25 vs 22 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $2.88M
Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.95M (7 sales) Kew — 4 bed: $2.88M (21 sales)

7 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Fairfield Kew
Residential 36% 68%
Parks and recreation 43% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 12%
same for both
Industrial 6% 0%
Commercial 3% 2%
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 Kew
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
 711
across Boroondara
Approvals change year on year +646% -40%

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 Kew
Houses 3.2%
$825/wk on $1.32M
 2.7%
$1,275/wk on $2.49M
Units 5.8%
$500/wk on $445K
 5.5%
$682/wk on $650K

Ranking within VIC

Fairfield Kew
House price Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 53% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC

Liveability

Fairfield Kew
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more flood risk (70 vs 57).

Fairfield Kew
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood High
70/100
 Moderate
57/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Fairfield Kew
Inside the suburb 1 13
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 1 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 3.7 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 4.9%

Schools in Fairfield

  • Fairfield Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kew

  • Genazzano FCJ College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • Methodist Ladies' College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Trinity Grammar School Kew Independent · Combined above peers
  • Carey Baptist Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Kew Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ruyton Girls' School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fairfield Kew
Supermarkets 3 4
Cafes & restaurants 35 22
Parks & reserves 6 28
Childcare 6 24
GPs 3 4
Pharmacies 5 2
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 4
same for both
Waterways 2 4

Mobility

Fairfield Kew
Walkability score 96/100 93/100
Distance to Melbourne 6.9 km 8.4 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 18 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 128.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 702.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3078
 3.7%
postcode 3101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3078
 18
postcode 3101

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 Kew
Worked from Home 50.7% / 46.4%
Fairfield — Worked from Home: 50.7% Kew — Worked from Home: 46.4%
Car (driver) 33.5% / 41.5%
Fairfield — Car (driver): 33.5% Kew — Car (driver): 41.5%
Train 5.7% / 1.1%
Fairfield — Train: 5.7% Kew — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 2.9% / 3.4%
Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.9% Kew — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bicycle 4.3% / 1.6%
Fairfield — Bicycle: 4.3% Kew — Bicycle: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 2.7%
Fairfield — Car (passenger): 1.7% Kew — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Tram / Light Rail 0.1% / 2.1%
Fairfield — Tram / Light Rail: 0.1% Kew — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.7%).

Setting

Fairfield Kew
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.1 km 8.4 km

NBN connectivity

Fairfield Kew
Connectivity score 77/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
3,717 premises
 18%
12,405 premises

Climate

Fairfield Kew
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)

Fairfield Kew
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.82 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fairfield Kew
Average residential rate $1,937/yr $2,253/yr
Council Yarra Boroondara

Federal electorate

Fairfield Kew
Division Cooper Kooyong
Member Ged Kearney Monique Ryan
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fairfield

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

Kew

Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Northcote Fairfield vs Thornbury Fairfield vs Abbotsford Fairfield vs Clifton Hill Fairfield vs Alphington

Other comparisons with Kew

Kew vs Richmond Kew vs Hawthorn Kew vs Balwyn North Kew vs Hawthorn East Kew vs Balwyn Kew vs Abbotsford
Full data on Fairfield Full data on Kew
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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