Smithfield vs Fairfield Heights

In both, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Smithfield, most households own their home. In Fairfield Heights, about half of households rent.

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

Smithfield

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Fairfield Heights carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 65/100)

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

First-home buyers

Fairfield Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($795,500 vs $1,190,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Smithfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 73/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairfield Heights

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 23%)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 65/100)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Fairfield Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Smithfield and Fairfield 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.

Smithfield Fairfield 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.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Walkability 73 / 87
Smithfield — Walkability: 73/100 Fairfield Heights — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 35 / 47
Smithfield — Safety: 35/100 Fairfield Heights — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Smithfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Smithfield has more residents (13,160 vs 8,269); Fairfield Heights rents higher ($450/wk vs $400/wk).

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Population 13,160
+37% vs other
 8,269
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.9% +10.0%
Median age 38
same for both
Median household income $67,600/yr
+1% vs other
 $66,820/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $450/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
0-4 6.3% / 5.5%
Smithfield — 0-4: 6.3% Fairfield Heights — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 13.3% / 14.4%
Smithfield — 5-14: 13.3% Fairfield Heights — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 6.7% / 7.7%
Smithfield — 15-19: 6.7% Fairfield Heights — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 6.6% / 6.4%
Smithfield — 20-24: 6.6% Fairfield Heights — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 13.3% / 12.2%
Smithfield — 25-34: 13.3% Fairfield Heights — 25-34: 12.2%
35-44 11.8% / 12.6%
Smithfield — 35-44: 11.8% Fairfield Heights — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 12.4% / 12.8%
Smithfield — 45-54: 12.4% Fairfield Heights — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.9% / 13.0%
Smithfield — 55-64: 11.9% Fairfield Heights — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 9.0% / 8.8%
Smithfield — 65-74: 9.0% Fairfield Heights — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 5.8% / 4.8%
Smithfield — 75-84: 5.8% Fairfield Heights — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.8% / 1.9%
Smithfield — 85+: 2.8% Fairfield Heights — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 48.1% couple families
Smithfield — Couple Families: 48.1% Smithfield — Lone Person: 26.7% Smithfield — One Parent Families: 21.1% Smithfield — Group Household: 2.3% Smithfield — Other Families: 1.8%
Fairfield Heights 54.9% couple families
Fairfield Heights — Couple Families: 54.9% Fairfield Heights — Lone Person: 20.1% Fairfield Heights — One Parent Families: 21.4% Fairfield Heights — Group Household: 1.8% Fairfield Heights — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 44.5% renting
Smithfield — Owned Outright: 28.3% Smithfield — Mortgage: 27.3% Smithfield — Renting: 44.5%
Fairfield Heights 50.2% renting
Fairfield Heights — Owned Outright: 25.8% Fairfield Heights — Mortgage: 24.0% Fairfield Heights — Renting: 50.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Certificate III & IV 9.6% / 6.5%
Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.6% Fairfield Heights — Certificate III & IV: 6.5%
Bachelor Degree 7.4% / 7.4%
Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 7.4% Fairfield Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 5.8%
Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Fairfield Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.3%
Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Fairfield Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 0.4%
Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Fairfield Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.6%).

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.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Iraq 18.1% / 28.4%
Smithfield — Iraq: 18.1% Fairfield Heights — Iraq: 28.4%
Vietnam 6.9% / 8.8%
Smithfield — Vietnam: 6.9% Fairfield Heights — Vietnam: 8.8%
Italy 2.3% / 1.2%
Smithfield — Italy: 2.3% Fairfield Heights — Italy: 1.2%
Lebanon 2.2% / 1.3%
Smithfield — Lebanon: 2.2% Fairfield Heights — Lebanon: 1.3%
China 1.0% / 1.6%
Smithfield — China: 1.0% Fairfield Heights — China: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Smithfield — New Zealand: 1.2% Fairfield Heights — New Zealand: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 77.3% houses
Smithfield — Houses: 77.3% Smithfield — Townhouses: 10.7% Smithfield — Flats / Apartments: 12.0%
Fairfield Heights 56.0% houses
Fairfield Heights — Houses: 56.0% Fairfield Heights — Townhouses: 36.3% Fairfield Heights — Flats / Apartments: 7.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,277,500
Median unit price $1,190,500 $795,500
Median land price $1,180,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 107 sales
 28 days
from 39 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.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
3 bed $1.21M / $1.2M
Smithfield — 3 bed: $1.21M (82 sales) Fairfield Heights — 3 bed: $1.2M (22 sales)

82 vs 22 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.28M
Smithfield — 4 bed: $1.3M (34 sales) Fairfield Heights — 4 bed: $1.28M (16 sales)

34 vs 16 sales

5 bed $1.5M / $1.31M
Smithfield — 5 bed: $1.5M (38 sales) Fairfield Heights — 5 bed: $1.31M (20 sales)

38 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Smithfield has more industrially zoned land (47% vs 0%).

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Residential 37% 94%
Industrial 47% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 0%
Commercial 1% 4%
Environmental 4% 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

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
New dwellings approved 1,756
across Cumberland
 1,095
across Fairfield
Approvals change year on year -28% +29%

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.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Houses 3.0%
$720/wk on $1.24M
 4.7%
$950/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Schools Higher than 55% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield Heights is more walkable (87 vs 73).

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 54/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Smithfield carries more crime risk (65 vs 53).

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
53/100
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 22
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 7.4 km
 3
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6%
same for both

Schools in Smithfield

  • St Gertrude's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Smithfield Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Smithfield West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Western Sydney School, Smithfield Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in Fairfield Heights

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 21 3
Childcare 17 3
GPs 3 4
Pharmacies 2 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 6 2
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Walkability score 73/100 87/100
Distance to Sydney 32.1 km 33.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 38 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 319.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 110.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2164
 0.4%
postcode 2165
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2164
 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.

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Car (driver) 60.8% / 62.8%
Smithfield — Car (driver): 60.8% Fairfield Heights — Car (driver): 62.8%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 25.4%
Smithfield — Worked from Home: 29.6% Fairfield Heights — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.6%
Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.0% Fairfield Heights — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Train 2.1% / 4.5%
Smithfield — Train: 2.1% Fairfield Heights — Train: 4.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.1%
Smithfield — Walked Only: 1.3% Fairfield Heights — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.9% / 1.3%
Smithfield — Bus: 0.9% Fairfield Heights — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.8%).

Setting

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.7 km 22.6 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Connectivity score 72/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
6,055 premises
 2%
2,714 premises

Climate

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
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)

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
PM2.5 6.7 µg/m³ 6.8 µg/m³
PM10 17.6 µg/m³ 18.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.88 pphm 0.72 pphm

Council rates

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Average residential rate $1,038/yr $990/yr
Council Cumberland Fairfield

Federal electorate

Smithfield Fairfield Heights
Division Mcmahon
same for both
Member Chris Bowen
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Smithfield

Multicultural Outer Parks River

Fairfield Heights

Multicultural Outer Parks Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Smithfield

Smithfield vs Greystanes Smithfield vs Fairfield Smithfield vs Fairfield West Smithfield vs Merrylands West Smithfield vs Wetherill Park Smithfield vs Guildford West

Other comparisons with Fairfield Heights

Fairfield Heights vs Fairfield Fairfield Heights vs Fairfield West
Full data on Smithfield Full data on Fairfield Heights
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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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