Old Guildford vs Fairfield East

Old Guildford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 37 in Fairfield East. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Old Guildford, most households own their home and most households are couple families. In Fairfield East, about half of households rent and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Old Guildford: a median of $1.47 million, against $1.3 million in Fairfield East, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Old Guildford tends to suit families with children and couples, while Fairfield East suits 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

Old Guildford

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 71%)
  • carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Fairfield East has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,300,000 vs $1,470,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairfield East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $420/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Old Guildford sits closer to the CBD (27.4 km vs 29.5 km)
  • Fairfield East is more walkable (76/100 vs 66/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairfield East

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 12%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 66/100)
  • But Old Guildford carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

Old Guildford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.3% vs -1.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Old Guildford Fairfield East
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.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Walkability 66 / 76
Old Guildford — Walkability: 66/100 Fairfield East — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 48 / 38
Old Guildford — Safety: 48/100 Fairfield East — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Old Guildford — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield East — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield East has more residents (5,198 vs 2,857); Old Guildford rents higher ($420/wk vs $300/wk).

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Population 2,857 5,198
+82% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.3% -1.4%
Median age 29 37
Median household income $78,572/yr
+20% vs other
 $63,024/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+29% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
0-4 8.8% / 5.8%
Old Guildford — 0-4: 8.8% Fairfield East — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 17.0% / 13.7%
Old Guildford — 5-14: 17.0% Fairfield East — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 7.8% / 7.6%
Old Guildford — 15-19: 7.8% Fairfield East — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 8.6% / 7.0%
Old Guildford — 20-24: 8.6% Fairfield East — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 16.7% / 12.5%
Old Guildford — 25-34: 16.7% Fairfield East — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 11.7% / 12.4%
Old Guildford — 35-44: 11.7% Fairfield East — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 10.0% / 13.4%
Old Guildford — 45-54: 10.0% Fairfield East — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 9.5% / 11.7%
Old Guildford — 55-64: 9.5% Fairfield East — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 6.1% / 9.1%
Old Guildford — 65-74: 6.1% Fairfield East — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 3.0% / 4.4%
Old Guildford — 75-84: 3.0% Fairfield East — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.1% / 2.4%
Old Guildford — 85+: 1.1% Fairfield East — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Old Guildford 61.0% couple families
Old Guildford — Couple Families: 61.0% Old Guildford — One Parent Families: 20.1% Old Guildford — Lone Person: 14.8% Old Guildford — Group Household: 2.6% Old Guildford — Other Families: 1.5%
Fairfield East 47.8% couple families
Fairfield East — Couple Families: 47.8% Fairfield East — One Parent Families: 22.9% Fairfield East — Lone Person: 24.4% Fairfield East — Group Household: 3.6% Fairfield East — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Old Guildford 34.7% renting
Old Guildford — Owned Outright: 29.1% Old Guildford — Mortgage: 36.2% Old Guildford — Renting: 34.7%
Fairfield East 46.3% renting
Fairfield East — Owned Outright: 26.0% Fairfield East — Mortgage: 27.7% Fairfield East — Renting: 46.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 7.4%
Old Guildford — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Fairfield East — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 8.5%
Old Guildford — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Fairfield East — Bachelor Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 5.3%
Old Guildford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Fairfield East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.5%
Old Guildford — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Fairfield East — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 0.5%
Old Guildford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Fairfield East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.5%).

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.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Vietnam 2.1% / 18.9%
Old Guildford — Vietnam: 2.1% Fairfield East — Vietnam: 18.9%
Lebanon 12.5% / 3.0%
Old Guildford — Lebanon: 12.5% Fairfield East — Lebanon: 3.0%
Iraq 2.1% / 7.2%
Old Guildford — Iraq: 2.1% Fairfield East — Iraq: 7.2%
China 2.7% / 2.7%
Old Guildford — China: 2.7% Fairfield East — China: 2.7%
Afghanistan 2.7% / —
Old Guildford — Afghanistan: 2.7% Fairfield East — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.7%
Old Guildford — Philippines: not among its largest Fairfield East — Philippines: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Old Guildford 88.3% houses
Old Guildford — Houses: 88.3% Old Guildford — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% Old Guildford — Townhouses: 6.4%
Fairfield East 70.9% houses
Fairfield East — Houses: 70.9% Fairfield East — Flats / Apartments: 16.6% Fairfield East — Townhouses: 12.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Median house price $1,470,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price — $402,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 244 days
from 3 sales
 24 days
from 17 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.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
3 bed $1.48M / $1.04M
Old Guildford — 3 bed: $1.48M (12 sales) Fairfield East — 3 bed: $1.04M (14 sales)

12 vs 14 sales

4 bed $1.42M / $1.32M
Old Guildford — 4 bed: $1.42M (6 sales) Fairfield East — 4 bed: $1.32M (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Fairfield East has more industrially zoned land (33% vs 21%).

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Residential 67% 60%
Industrial 21% 33%
Parks and recreation 8% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 2%
Environmental 0% 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

Old Guildford Fairfield East
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.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Houses — 3.3%
$800/wk on $1.26M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Old Guildford Fairfield East
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 34% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield East is more walkable (76 vs 66).

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Fairfield East carries more crime risk (62 vs 52).

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
62/100
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 13
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 6.0 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 7.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 3.4%

Schools in Old Guildford

  • Old Guildford Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Fairfield East

  • Villawood North Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 10
Childcare 5 1
GPs 0 1
Fuel stations 2
same for both
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Fairfield East sits further from the CBD (29.5 km vs 27.4 km).

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Walkability score 66/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 27.4 km 29.5 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 37 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2161
 0.4%
postcode 2165
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2161
 27
postcode 2165

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.

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Car (driver) 53.2% / 59.8%
Old Guildford — Car (driver): 53.2% Fairfield East — Car (driver): 59.8%
Worked from Home 32.3% / 27.2%
Old Guildford — Worked from Home: 32.3% Fairfield East — Worked from Home: 27.2%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 6.0%
Old Guildford — Car (passenger): 4.9% Fairfield East — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Train 6.0% / 3.9%
Old Guildford — Train: 6.0% Fairfield East — Train: 3.9%
Walked Only 2.3% / 1.8%
Old Guildford — Walked Only: 2.3% Fairfield East — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.8%).

Setting

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.2 km
4.5 km to a named beach
 19.5 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Connectivity score 90/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
849 premises
 9%
1,915 premises

Climate

Old Guildford Fairfield East
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)

Old Guildford Fairfield East
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.9 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Average residential rate $990/yr
same for both
Council Fairfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Division Blaxland Fowler
Member Jason Clare Dai Le
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

Old Guildford Fairfield East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Old Guildford

Family Multicultural Outer Parks Young Families

Fairfield East

Multicultural Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Old Guildford

Old Guildford vs Guildford Old Guildford vs Chester Hill Old Guildford vs Yennora

Other comparisons with Fairfield East

Fairfield East vs Fairfield Fairfield East vs Chester Hill Fairfield East vs Villawood Fairfield East vs Carramar Fairfield East vs Yennora
Full data on Old Guildford Full data on Fairfield East
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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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