Fairfield West vs Canley Heights

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Fairfield West, most households are couple families. In Canley Heights, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Canley Heights: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.25 million in Fairfield West, though rent is higher in Fairfield West.

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 West

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 4)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 77%)
  • But Canley Heights has more childcare (7 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($560,000 vs $890,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Canley Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Canley Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Canley Heights

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (23% vs 12%)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Canley Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Fairfield West and Canley Heights 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 West Canley Heights
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 West Canley Heights
Walkability 80 / 90
Fairfield West — Walkability: 80/100 Canley Heights — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 64 / 60
Fairfield West — Safety: 64/100 Canley Heights — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fairfield West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Canley Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield West rents higher ($440/wk vs $400/wk).

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Population 12,981
+5% vs other
 12,320
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% +12.3%
Median age 36 37
Median household income $74,256/yr $77,272/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairfield West Canley Heights
0-4 5.9% / 5.2%
Fairfield West — 0-4: 5.9% Canley Heights — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 14.3% / 12.7%
Fairfield West — 5-14: 14.3% Canley Heights — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 7.2% / 7.4%
Fairfield West — 15-19: 7.2% Canley Heights — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 7.5% / 8.1%
Fairfield West — 20-24: 7.5% Canley Heights — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 12.8% / 14.0%
Fairfield West — 25-34: 12.8% Canley Heights — 25-34: 14.0%
35-44 12.5% / 11.9%
Fairfield West — 35-44: 12.5% Canley Heights — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 12.8% / 13.6%
Fairfield West — 45-54: 12.8% Canley Heights — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 11.8% / 13.6%
Fairfield West — 55-64: 11.8% Canley Heights — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 8.4% / 7.9%
Fairfield West — 65-74: 8.4% Canley Heights — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 5.5% / 4.1%
Fairfield West — 75-84: 5.5% Canley Heights — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.4% / 1.6%
Fairfield West — 85+: 1.4% Canley Heights — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fairfield West 57.6% couple families
Fairfield West — Couple Families: 57.6% Fairfield West — One Parent Families: 22.9% Fairfield West — Lone Person: 15.3% Fairfield West — Other Families: 2.1% Fairfield West — Group Household: 2.2%
Canley Heights 50.4% couple families
Canley Heights — Couple Families: 50.4% Canley Heights — One Parent Families: 27.7% Canley Heights — Lone Person: 16.4% Canley Heights — Other Families: 3.0% Canley Heights — Group Household: 2.5%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield West 36.2% renting
Fairfield West — Owned Outright: 34.7% Fairfield West — Mortgage: 29.0% Fairfield West — Renting: 36.2%
Canley Heights 40.9% renting
Canley Heights — Owned Outright: 30.4% Canley Heights — Mortgage: 28.8% Canley Heights — Renting: 40.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Bachelor Degree 7.3% / 8.8%
Fairfield West — Bachelor Degree: 7.3% Canley Heights — Bachelor Degree: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 6.2%
Fairfield West — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Canley Heights — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 4.9%
Fairfield West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Canley Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.1%
Fairfield West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Canley Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.4% / 0.4%
Fairfield West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4% Canley Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.8%).

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 West Canley Heights
Vietnam 12.7% / 30.9%
Fairfield West — Vietnam: 12.7% Canley Heights — Vietnam: 30.9%
Iraq 18.0% / 4.2%
Fairfield West — Iraq: 18.0% Canley Heights — Iraq: 4.2%
China 1.0% / 1.6%
Fairfield West — China: 1.0% Canley Heights — China: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.2%
Fairfield West — New Zealand: 1.1% Canley Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
Lebanon 1.3% / —
Fairfield West — Lebanon: 1.3% Canley Heights — Lebanon: not among its largest
Thailand — / 1.0%
Fairfield West — Thailand: not among its largest Canley Heights — Thailand: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fairfield West 88.3% houses
Fairfield West — Houses: 88.3% Fairfield West — Townhouses: 7.0% Fairfield West — Flats / Apartments: 4.7%
Canley Heights 77.1% houses
Canley Heights — Houses: 77.1% Canley Heights — Townhouses: 18.7% Canley Heights — Flats / Apartments: 4.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,362,500
Median unit price $560,000 $890,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 94 sales
 24 days
from 49 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 West Canley Heights
3 bed $1.15M / $1.25M
Fairfield West — 3 bed: $1.15M (48 sales) Canley Heights — 3 bed: $1.25M (48 sales)

48 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $1.37M
Fairfield West — 4 bed: $1.25M (40 sales) Canley Heights — 4 bed: $1.37M (15 sales)

40 vs 15 sales

5 bed $1.48M / $1.4M
Fairfield West — 5 bed: $1.48M (27 sales) Canley Heights — 5 bed: $1.4M (20 sales)

27 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Residential 84%
same for both
Parks and recreation 10% 3%
Environmental 3% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 2%
Commercial 1% 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 West Canley Heights
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 West Canley Heights
Houses 3.1%
$740/wk on $1.23M
 3.6%
$850/wk on $1.21M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fairfield West Canley Heights
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools Higher than 96% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield West scores higher overall (68 vs 58); Canley Heights is more walkable (90 vs 80).

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 58/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 Moderate
40/100
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 21
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.2 km
 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 3.9%

Schools in Fairfield West

  • Fairfield West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Fairvale High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Westfields Sports High School Government · Secondary above peers

Schools in Canley Heights

  • Canley Heights Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 26
Parks & reserves 15 4
Childcare 2 7
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Walkability score 80/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 33.8 km 35.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 36 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 198.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 119.8
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 West Canley Heights
Car (driver) 62.1% / 61.3%
Fairfield West — Car (driver): 62.1% Canley Heights — Car (driver): 61.3%
Worked from Home 28.4% / 25.3%
Fairfield West — Worked from Home: 28.4% Canley Heights — Worked from Home: 25.3%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 6.5%
Fairfield West — Car (passenger): 4.7% Canley Heights — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Train 3.3% / 4.2%
Fairfield West — Train: 3.3% Canley Heights — Train: 4.2%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.4%
Fairfield West — Walked Only: 0.7% Canley Heights — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.1%).

Setting

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.7 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 23.2 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
3,821 premises
 0%
3,722 premises

Climate

Fairfield West Canley Heights
Annual rainfall 931 mm 909 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C 28.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C 6.4°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fairfield West

Multicultural Outer Parks Urban

Canley Heights

Multicultural Outer Parks River Urban Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairfield West

Fairfield West vs Fairfield Fairfield West vs Smithfield Fairfield West vs Canley Vale Fairfield West vs Fairfield Heights Fairfield West vs Wakeley Fairfield West vs Prairiewood

Other comparisons with Canley Heights

Canley Heights vs Cabramatta Canley Heights vs Canley Vale Canley Heights vs Cabramatta West Canley Heights vs St Johns Park Canley Heights vs Wakeley
Full data on Fairfield West Full data on Canley Heights
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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