Fairfield West vs Prairiewood

Fairfield West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Prairiewood. 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 Prairiewood, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Prairiewood: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.25 million 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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 79/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($560,000 vs $750,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,250,000 vs $1,400,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (35 min vs 41 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (33.8 km vs 35.8 km)
  • But Prairiewood is more walkable (88/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Prairiewood

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 12%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 15%)
  • But Fairfield West carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Fairfield West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.1% vs 6.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Fairfield West and Prairiewood 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 Prairiewood
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 Prairiewood
Walkability 80 / 88
Fairfield West — Walkability: 80/100 Prairiewood — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 64 / 21
Fairfield West — Safety: 64/100 Prairiewood — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fairfield West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Prairiewood — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield West has more residents (12,981 vs 3,457); Prairiewood skews older (43 vs 36).

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Population 12,981
+73% vs other
 3,457
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% +6.5%
Median age 36 43
Median household income $74,256/yr $76,856/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+2% vs other
 $433/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairfield West Prairiewood
0-4 5.9% / 4.5%
Fairfield West — 0-4: 5.9% Prairiewood — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 14.3% / 11.9%
Fairfield West — 5-14: 14.3% Prairiewood — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 7.2% / 6.7%
Fairfield West — 15-19: 7.2% Prairiewood — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 7.5% / 5.9%
Fairfield West — 20-24: 7.5% Prairiewood — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 12.8% / 11.5%
Fairfield West — 25-34: 12.8% Prairiewood — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 12.5% / 11.5%
Fairfield West — 35-44: 12.5% Prairiewood — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.8% / 12.7%
Fairfield West — 45-54: 12.8% Prairiewood — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 11.8% / 13.1%
Fairfield West — 55-64: 11.8% Prairiewood — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 8.4% / 12.3%
Fairfield West — 65-74: 8.4% Prairiewood — 65-74: 12.3%
75-84 5.5% / 7.8%
Fairfield West — 75-84: 5.5% Prairiewood — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 1.4% / 2.2%
Fairfield West — 85+: 1.4% Prairiewood — 85+: 2.2%

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 — Group Household: 2.2% Fairfield West — Other Families: 2.1%
Prairiewood 53.9% couple families
Prairiewood — Couple Families: 53.9% Prairiewood — One Parent Families: 21.6% Prairiewood — Lone Person: 20.9% Prairiewood — Group Household: 1.9% Prairiewood — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

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%
Prairiewood 33.9% renting
Prairiewood — Owned Outright: 39.6% Prairiewood — Mortgage: 26.4% Prairiewood — Renting: 33.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 10.8%
Fairfield West — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Prairiewood — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Bachelor Degree 7.3% / 10.2%
Fairfield West — Bachelor Degree: 7.3% Prairiewood — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 6.5%
Fairfield West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Prairiewood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.8%
Fairfield West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Prairiewood — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.4% / 0.6%
Fairfield West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4% Prairiewood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.8%).

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 Prairiewood
Iraq 18.0% / 15.5%
Fairfield West — Iraq: 18.0% Prairiewood — Iraq: 15.5%
Vietnam 12.7% / 6.7%
Fairfield West — Vietnam: 12.7% Prairiewood — Vietnam: 6.7%
Italy 0.9% / 3.2%
Fairfield West — Italy: 0.9% Prairiewood — Italy: 3.2%
Lebanon 1.3% / 1.4%
Fairfield West — Lebanon: 1.3% Prairiewood — Lebanon: 1.4%
China 1.0% / 1.3%
Fairfield West — China: 1.0% Prairiewood — China: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / —
Fairfield West — New Zealand: 1.1% Prairiewood — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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%
Prairiewood 75.6% houses
Prairiewood — Houses: 75.6% Prairiewood — Townhouses: 13.9% Prairiewood — Flats / Apartments: 10.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,400,500
Median unit price $560,000 $750,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 94 sales
 25 days
from 16 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 Prairiewood
3 bed $1.15M / $1.23M
Fairfield West — 3 bed: $1.15M (48 sales) Prairiewood — 3 bed: $1.23M (13 sales)

48 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $1.44M
Fairfield West — 4 bed: $1.25M (40 sales) Prairiewood — 4 bed: $1.44M (25 sales)

40 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Residential 84% 54%
Parks and recreation 10% 32%
Environmental 3% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 7%
Commercial 1% 0%
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 Prairiewood
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 Prairiewood
Houses 3.1%
$740/wk on $1.23M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fairfield West Prairiewood
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 70% 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 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of NSW —

Liveability

Fairfield West scores higher overall (68 vs 54); Prairiewood is more walkable (88 vs 80).

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 54/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Prairiewood carries more crime risk (79 vs 36).

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 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 21
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Fairfield West Prairiewood
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, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.5%

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 Prairiewood

  • Prairiewood High School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 15 9
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Prairiewood sits further from the CBD (35.8 km vs 33.8 km).

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Walkability score 80/100 88/100
Distance to Sydney 33.8 km 35.8 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 41 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 198.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 88.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2165
 0.6%
postcode 2176
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2165
 44
postcode 2176

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 Prairiewood
Car (driver) 62.1% / 54.1%
Fairfield West — Car (driver): 62.1% Prairiewood — Car (driver): 54.1%
Worked from Home 28.4% / 37.3%
Fairfield West — Worked from Home: 28.4% Prairiewood — Worked from Home: 37.3%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.3%
Fairfield West — Car (passenger): 4.7% Prairiewood — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Train 3.3% / 1.5%
Fairfield West — Train: 3.3% Prairiewood — Train: 1.5%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.4%
Fairfield West — Walked Only: 0.7% Prairiewood — Walked Only: 1.4%

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

Setting

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.7 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 25.6 km

NBN connectivity

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Connectivity score 76/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
3,821 premises
 24%
1,587 premises

Climate

Fairfield West Prairiewood
Annual rainfall 931 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Fairfield West Prairiewood
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

Prairiewood

Multicultural Outer Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairfield West

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

Other comparisons with Prairiewood

Prairiewood vs Bossley Park Prairiewood vs Smithfield Prairiewood vs Wetherill Park Prairiewood vs St Johns Park Prairiewood vs Greenfield Park Prairiewood vs Wakeley
Full data on Fairfield West Full data on Prairiewood
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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