Northcote vs Fairfield

In both, most households own their home. In Fairfield, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Fairfield tends to suit 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

Northcote

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 6)

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 $568,750)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $475/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

Northcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (11 vs 3)

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 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Northcote 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.

Northcote 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.

Northcote Fairfield
Walkability 99 / 96
Northcote — Walkability: 99/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 30 / 27
Northcote — Safety: 30/100 Fairfield — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Northcote — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 47 / 30
Northcote — Low flood risk: 47/100 Fairfield — Low flood risk: 30/100

Demographics

Northcote has more residents (25,276 vs 6,535); Northcote rents higher ($475/wk vs $369/wk).

Northcote Fairfield
Population 25,276
+74% vs other
 6,535
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% -0.4%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $118,924/yr
+14% vs other
 $102,284/yr
Median weekly rent $475/wk
+22% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Northcote Fairfield
0-4 4.6% / 5.2%
Northcote — 0-4: 4.6% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.4% / 10.2%
Northcote — 5-14: 10.4% Fairfield — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 4.8% / 4.3%
Northcote — 15-19: 4.8% Fairfield — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.2% / 5.8%
Northcote — 20-24: 5.2% Fairfield — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 20.4% / 18.8%
Northcote — 25-34: 20.4% Fairfield — 25-34: 18.8%
35-44 15.9% / 17.0%
Northcote — 35-44: 15.9% Fairfield — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 15.2% / 14.0%
Northcote — 45-54: 15.2% Fairfield — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.4% / 11.5%
Northcote — 55-64: 10.4% Fairfield — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 6.7% / 7.6%
Northcote — 65-74: 6.7% Fairfield — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 4.4% / 4.0%
Northcote — 75-84: 4.4% Fairfield — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 2.1% / 1.8%
Northcote — 85+: 2.1% Fairfield — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Northcote 40.4% lone person
Northcote — Lone Person: 40.4% Northcote — Couple Families: 35.9% Northcote — One Parent Families: 10.2% Northcote — Group Household: 12.1% Northcote — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Northcote 38.3% renting
Northcote — Owned Outright: 30.8% Northcote — Mortgage: 30.9% Northcote — Renting: 38.3%
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.

Northcote Fairfield
Bachelor Degree 26.9% / 24.9%
Northcote — Bachelor Degree: 26.9% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 14.1% / 12.1%
Northcote — Postgraduate Degree: 14.1% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.7%
Northcote — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.6% / 6.6%
Northcote — Certificate III & IV: 5.6% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.2% / 5.5%
Northcote — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.2% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

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.

Northcote Fairfield
England 3.8% / 3.2%
Northcote — England: 3.8% Fairfield — England: 3.2%
Greece 3.5% / 2.6%
Northcote — Greece: 3.5% Fairfield — Greece: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.4%
Northcote — New Zealand: 2.3% Fairfield — New Zealand: 1.4%
Italy 1.8% / 1.8%
Northcote — Italy: 1.8% Fairfield — Italy: 1.8%
China 0.8% / 0.8%
Northcote — China: 0.8% Fairfield — China: 0.8%
India 0.7% / 0.9%
Northcote — India: 0.7% Fairfield — India: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Northcote 49.1% houses
Northcote — Houses: 49.1% Northcote — Flats / Apartments: 23.6% Northcote — Townhouses: 27.4%
Fairfield 43.7% houses
Fairfield — Houses: 43.7% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 35.0% Fairfield — Townhouses: 21.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Northcote Fairfield
Median house price $1,650,000 $1,662,500
Median unit price $568,750 $483,250
Median land price $1,650,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 201 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.

Northcote Fairfield
1 bed $399K / $385K
Northcote — 1 bed: $399K (102 sales) Fairfield — 1 bed: $385K (47 sales)

102 vs 47 sales

2 bed $645K / $580K
Northcote — 2 bed: $645K (159 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $580K (51 sales)

159 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.

Northcote Fairfield
2 bed $1.32M / $1.61M
Northcote — 2 bed: $1.32M (90 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $1.61M (11 sales)

90 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.55M
Northcote — 3 bed: $1.65M (167 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.55M (25 sales)

167 vs 25 sales

4 bed $2.27M / $1.95M
Northcote — 4 bed: $2.27M (81 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.95M (7 sales)

81 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Northcote Fairfield
Residential 72% 36%
Parks and recreation 11% 43%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 12%
Industrial 1% 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

Northcote Fairfield
New dwellings approved 1,213
across Darebin
 1,675
across Yarra
Approvals change year on year +0% +646%

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.

Northcote Fairfield
Houses 3.0%
$922/wk on $1.6M
 3.2%
$825/wk on $1.32M
Units 5.1%
$550/wk on $565K
 5.8%
$500/wk on $445K

Ranking within VIC

Northcote Fairfield
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Income Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools Higher than 4% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC

Liveability

Fairfield scores higher overall (76 vs 66).

Northcote Fairfield
Grade B A
Score 66/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more flood risk (70 vs 53).

Northcote Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
70/100
 High
73/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 High
70/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Northcote Fairfield
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 3.7 km
same for both
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 3.0%

Schools in Northcote

  • Northcote High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Santa Maria College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Westgarth Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northcote Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Croxton School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Fairfield

  • Fairfield Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Northcote Fairfield
Supermarkets 5 3
Cafes & restaurants 69 35
Parks & reserves 24 6
Childcare 12 6
GPs 11 3
Pharmacies 5
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Northcote Fairfield
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.5 km
+8% vs other
 6.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 16 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 566.5
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 3070
 3.0%
postcode 3078
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3070
 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.

Northcote Fairfield
Worked from Home 54.4% / 50.7%
Northcote — Worked from Home: 54.4% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 50.7%
Car (driver) 28.6% / 33.5%
Northcote — Car (driver): 28.6% Fairfield — Car (driver): 33.5%
Train 4.4% / 5.7%
Northcote — Train: 4.4% Fairfield — Train: 5.7%
Bicycle 5.2% / 4.3%
Northcote — Bicycle: 5.2% Fairfield — Bicycle: 4.3%
Walked Only 2.9% / 2.9%
Northcote — Walked Only: 2.9% Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.4%).

Setting

Northcote Fairfield
Elevation 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km 9.1 km

NBN connectivity

Northcote Fairfield
Connectivity score 76/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
13,047 premises
 6%
3,717 premises

Climate

Northcote 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)

Northcote Fairfield
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

Northcote Fairfield
Average residential rate $1,764/yr $1,937/yr
Council Darebin Yarra

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Northcote

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Fairfield

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Northcote

Northcote vs Thornbury Northcote vs Brunswick East Northcote vs Fitzroy North Northcote vs Clifton Hill

Other comparisons with Fairfield

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