Smithfield vs Fairfield

In Smithfield, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Fairfield, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. On these figures, Fairfield tends to suit 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

Smithfield

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 8)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 40%)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 13)
  • But Fairfield has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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 ($445,500 vs $1,190,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 44%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (7% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 73/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairfield

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (22 vs 3)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (60% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 73/100)
  • But Smithfield carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Smithfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.9% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Smithfield 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.

Smithfield 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.

Smithfield Fairfield
Walkability 73 / 94
Smithfield — Walkability: 73/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 35 / 21
Smithfield — Safety: 35/100 Fairfield — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Smithfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield has more residents (18,596 vs 13,160); Smithfield has higher household incomes ($67,600 vs $56,784).

Smithfield Fairfield
Population 13,160 18,596
+41% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.9% +2.8%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $67,600/yr
+16% vs other
 $56,784/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+9% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Smithfield Fairfield
0-4 6.3% / 5.1%
Smithfield — 0-4: 6.3% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 13.3% / 11.8%
Smithfield — 5-14: 13.3% Fairfield — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 6.7% / 6.3%
Smithfield — 15-19: 6.7% Fairfield — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.6% / 6.4%
Smithfield — 20-24: 6.6% Fairfield — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 13.3% / 13.1%
Smithfield — 25-34: 13.3% Fairfield — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 11.8% / 13.0%
Smithfield — 35-44: 11.8% Fairfield — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 12.4% / 13.6%
Smithfield — 45-54: 12.4% Fairfield — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 11.9% / 13.9%
Smithfield — 55-64: 11.9% Fairfield — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 9.0% / 9.9%
Smithfield — 65-74: 9.0% Fairfield — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.8% / 5.1%
Smithfield — 75-84: 5.8% Fairfield — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.8% / 2.0%
Smithfield — 85+: 2.8% Fairfield — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

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 44.0% couple families
Fairfield — Couple Families: 44.0% Fairfield — Lone Person: 27.3% Fairfield — One Parent Families: 22.9% Fairfield — Group Household: 2.9% Fairfield — Other Families: 2.9%
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 59.6% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 21.8% Fairfield — Mortgage: 18.5% Fairfield — Renting: 59.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Smithfield Fairfield
Certificate III & IV 9.6% / 6.8%
Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.6% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.8%
Bachelor Degree 7.4% / 8.1%
Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 7.4% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 5.9%
Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.6%
Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 0.6%
Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

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
Iraq 18.1% / 22.6%
Smithfield — Iraq: 18.1% Fairfield — Iraq: 22.6%
Vietnam 6.9% / 9.8%
Smithfield — Vietnam: 6.9% Fairfield — Vietnam: 9.8%
Lebanon 2.2% / 1.5%
Smithfield — Lebanon: 2.2% Fairfield — Lebanon: 1.5%
China 1.0% / 2.7%
Smithfield — China: 1.0% Fairfield — China: 2.7%
Italy 2.3% / 0.9%
Smithfield — Italy: 2.3% Fairfield — Italy: 0.9%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.6%
Smithfield — Philippines: 0.8% Fairfield — Philippines: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.9%
Smithfield — New Zealand: 1.2% Fairfield — New Zealand: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 77.3% houses
Smithfield — Houses: 77.3% Smithfield — Flats / Apartments: 12.0% Smithfield — Townhouses: 10.7%
Fairfield 40.0% houses
Fairfield — Houses: 40.0% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 46.6% Fairfield — Townhouses: 13.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Smithfield Fairfield
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price $1,190,500 $445,500
Median land price $1,180,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 107 sales
 23 days
from 89 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
2 bed $1.39M / $906K
Smithfield — 2 bed: $1.39M (10 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $906K (13 sales)

10 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.21M / $1.2M
Smithfield — 3 bed: $1.21M (82 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.2M (46 sales)

82 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.34M
Smithfield — 4 bed: $1.3M (34 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.34M (25 sales)

34 vs 25 sales

5 bed $1.5M / $1.44M
Smithfield — 5 bed: $1.5M (38 sales) Fairfield — 5 bed: $1.44M (32 sales)

38 vs 32 sales

6 bed $1.63M / $1.52M
Smithfield — 6 bed: $1.63M (6 sales) Fairfield — 6 bed: $1.52M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Smithfield has more industrially zoned land (47% vs 1%).

Smithfield Fairfield
Residential 37% 79%
Industrial 47% 1%
Environmental 4% 8%
Parks and recreation 7% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 6%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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
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
Houses 3.0%
$720/wk on $1.24M
 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.24M
Units — 5.6%
$500/wk on $461K

Ranking within NSW

Smithfield Fairfield
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield is more walkable (94 vs 73).

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

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more crime risk (79 vs 65).

Smithfield Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 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 22
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Smithfield Fairfield
Inside the suburb 4 8
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 0 1
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% 2.5%

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

  • Fairfield Heights Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Fairfield High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Fairvale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Patrician Brothers' College Fairfield Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Fairfield Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Smithfield Fairfield
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 21 8
Childcare 17 13
GPs 3 22
Pharmacies 2 9
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 6 1
Waterways 4 5

Mobility

Smithfield Fairfield
Walkability score 73/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 32.1 km
+3% vs other
 31.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 38 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 319.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 336.0
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
Car (driver) 60.8% / 54.9%
Smithfield — Car (driver): 60.8% Fairfield — Car (driver): 54.9%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 27.8%
Smithfield — Worked from Home: 29.6% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 27.8%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.8%
Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.0% Fairfield — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Train 2.1% / 7.4%
Smithfield — Train: 2.1% Fairfield — Train: 7.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.5%
Smithfield — Walked Only: 1.3% Fairfield — Walked Only: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.8%).

Setting

Smithfield Fairfield
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.7 km 21.3 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Smithfield Fairfield
Connectivity score 72/100 67/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
6,055 premises
 6%
8,391 premises

Climate

Smithfield Fairfield
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)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Smithfield Fairfield
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

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Smithfield

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

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Fairfield West Fairfield vs Canley Vale Fairfield vs Fairfield Heights Fairfield vs Fairfield East Fairfield vs Carramar Fairfield vs Yennora
Full data on Smithfield Full data on Fairfield
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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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