Smithfield vs Fairfield West

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Smithfield, about half of households are couple families. In Fairfield West, most households are couple families.

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 65/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 69%)
  • But Smithfield has more childcare (17 vs 2)

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 $1,190,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (32% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Smithfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/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

Smithfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (23% vs 12%)
  • But Fairfield West carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Smithfield and Fairfield West 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 West
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 West
Walkability 73 / 80
Smithfield — Walkability: 73/100 Fairfield West — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 35 / 64
Smithfield — Safety: 35/100 Fairfield West — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Smithfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairfield West rents higher ($440/wk vs $400/wk); Smithfield skews older (38 vs 36).

Smithfield Fairfield West
Population 13,160
+1% vs other
 12,981
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.9% +12.1%
Median age 38 36
Median household income $67,600/yr $74,256/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $440/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Smithfield Fairfield West
0-4 6.3% / 5.9%
Smithfield — 0-4: 6.3% Fairfield West — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 13.3% / 14.3%
Smithfield — 5-14: 13.3% Fairfield West — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 6.7% / 7.2%
Smithfield — 15-19: 6.7% Fairfield West — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.6% / 7.5%
Smithfield — 20-24: 6.6% Fairfield West — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 13.3% / 12.8%
Smithfield — 25-34: 13.3% Fairfield West — 25-34: 12.8%
35-44 11.8% / 12.5%
Smithfield — 35-44: 11.8% Fairfield West — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 12.4% / 12.8%
Smithfield — 45-54: 12.4% Fairfield West — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.9% / 11.8%
Smithfield — 55-64: 11.9% Fairfield West — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 9.0% / 8.4%
Smithfield — 65-74: 9.0% Fairfield West — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 5.8% / 5.5%
Smithfield — 75-84: 5.8% Fairfield West — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.8% / 1.4%
Smithfield — 85+: 2.8% Fairfield West — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Smithfield 48.1% couple families
Smithfield — Couple Families: 48.1% Smithfield — One Parent Families: 21.1% Smithfield — Lone Person: 26.7% Smithfield — Group Household: 2.3% Smithfield — Other Families: 1.8%
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%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person 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 West 36.2% renting
Fairfield West — Owned Outright: 34.7% Fairfield West — Mortgage: 29.0% Fairfield West — Renting: 36.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Smithfield Fairfield West
Certificate III & IV 9.6% / 8.2%
Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.6% Fairfield West — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.4% / 7.3%
Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 7.4% Fairfield West — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 5.5%
Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Fairfield West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.3%
Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Fairfield West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 0.4%
Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Fairfield West — 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 West
Iraq 18.1% / 18.0%
Smithfield — Iraq: 18.1% Fairfield West — Iraq: 18.0%
Vietnam 6.9% / 12.7%
Smithfield — Vietnam: 6.9% Fairfield West — Vietnam: 12.7%
Lebanon 2.2% / 1.3%
Smithfield — Lebanon: 2.2% Fairfield West — Lebanon: 1.3%
Italy 2.3% / 0.9%
Smithfield — Italy: 2.3% Fairfield West — Italy: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Smithfield — New Zealand: 1.2% Fairfield West — New Zealand: 1.1%
China 1.0% / 1.0%
Smithfield — China: 1.0% Fairfield West — China: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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 West 88.3% houses
Fairfield West — Houses: 88.3% Fairfield West — Townhouses: 7.0% Fairfield West — Flats / Apartments: 4.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Smithfield Fairfield West
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,250,000
Median unit price $1,190,500 $560,000
Median land price $1,180,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 107 sales
 25 days
from 94 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 West
3 bed $1.21M / $1.15M
Smithfield — 3 bed: $1.21M (82 sales) Fairfield West — 3 bed: $1.15M (48 sales)

82 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.25M
Smithfield — 4 bed: $1.3M (34 sales) Fairfield West — 4 bed: $1.25M (40 sales)

34 vs 40 sales

5 bed $1.5M / $1.48M
Smithfield — 5 bed: $1.5M (38 sales) Fairfield West — 5 bed: $1.48M (27 sales)

38 vs 27 sales

6 bed $1.63M / $1.37M
Smithfield — 6 bed: $1.63M (6 sales) Fairfield West — 6 bed: $1.37M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

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

Smithfield Fairfield West
Residential 37% 84%
Industrial 47% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Environmental 4% 3%
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 West
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 West
Houses 3.0%
$720/wk on $1.24M
 3.1%
$740/wk on $1.23M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Smithfield Fairfield West
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW

Liveability

Fairfield West scores higher overall (68 vs 50).

Smithfield Fairfield West
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 68/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Smithfield carries more crime risk (65 vs 36).

Smithfield Fairfield West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Low
36/100
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
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Smithfield Fairfield West
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 1 3
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, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 3.1%

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 West

  • Fairfield West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Fairvale High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Westfields Sports High School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Smithfield Fairfield West
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 21 15
Childcare 17 2
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 6 1
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Smithfield Fairfield West
Walkability score 73/100 80/100
Distance to Sydney 32.1 km 33.8 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 35 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 319.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 198.0
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 West
Car (driver) 60.8% / 62.1%
Smithfield — Car (driver): 60.8% Fairfield West — Car (driver): 62.1%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 28.4%
Smithfield — Worked from Home: 29.6% Fairfield West — Worked from Home: 28.4%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.7%
Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.0% Fairfield West — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Train 2.1% / 3.3%
Smithfield — Train: 2.1% Fairfield West — Train: 3.3%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.7%
Smithfield — Walked Only: 1.3% Fairfield West — Walked Only: 0.7%

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

Setting

Smithfield Fairfield West
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 23.7 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Smithfield Fairfield West
Connectivity score 72/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
6,055 premises
 6%
3,821 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Smithfield Fairfield West
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 West

Multicultural Outer Parks Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Smithfield

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

Other comparisons with Fairfield West

Fairfield West vs Fairfield Fairfield West vs Canley Heights Fairfield West vs Canley Vale Fairfield West vs Fairfield Heights Fairfield West vs Wakeley Fairfield West vs Prairiewood
Full data on Smithfield Full data on Fairfield West
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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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