St Lucia vs Fairfield

St Lucia is the younger of the two, with a median age of 25 against 32 in Fairfield. In St Lucia, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Fairfield, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in St Lucia: a median of $2.12 million, against $1.22 million in Fairfield. Fairfield is closer to the city centre: 5.3 km, against 6.8 km. On these figures, St Lucia tends to suit renters and share households, while Fairfield suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

St Lucia

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 8)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Fairfield has more separate houses rather than flats (63% vs 33%)

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 houses ($1,224,000 vs $2,120,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • St Lucia has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 43%)
  • Fairfield leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

St Lucia

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 76/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 37%)
  • But Fairfield is more walkable (88/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Fairfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.2% vs -2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

St Lucia 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.

St Lucia 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.

St Lucia Fairfield
Walkability 71 / 88
St Lucia — Walkability: 71/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 61 / 24
St Lucia — Safety: 61/100 Fairfield — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
St Lucia — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

St Lucia has more residents (12,220 vs 3,106); Fairfield has higher household incomes ($117,884 vs $91,572).

St Lucia Fairfield
Population 12,220
+75% vs other
 3,106
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +4.2%
Median age 25 32
Median household income $91,572/yr $117,884/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

St Lucia Fairfield
0-4 3.1% / 5.1%
St Lucia — 0-4: 3.1% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 7.7% / 8.6%
St Lucia — 5-14: 7.7% Fairfield — 5-14: 8.6%
15-19 16.5% / 5.5%
St Lucia — 15-19: 16.5% Fairfield — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 21.7% / 12.7%
St Lucia — 20-24: 21.7% Fairfield — 20-24: 12.7%
25-34 16.6% / 23.1%
St Lucia — 25-34: 16.6% Fairfield — 25-34: 23.1%
35-44 10.6% / 15.3%
St Lucia — 35-44: 10.6% Fairfield — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 7.2% / 12.1%
St Lucia — 45-54: 7.2% Fairfield — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 6.0% / 9.7%
St Lucia — 55-64: 6.0% Fairfield — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 6.1% / 5.1%
St Lucia — 65-74: 6.1% Fairfield — 65-74: 5.1%
75-84 3.8% / 2.0%
St Lucia — 75-84: 3.8% Fairfield — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 1.0% / 1.0%
St Lucia — 85+: 1.0% Fairfield — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 32.8% lone person
St Lucia — Lone Person: 32.8% St Lucia — Couple Families: 28.8% St Lucia — Group Household: 26.1% St Lucia — One Parent Families: 8.3% St Lucia — Other Families: 3.9%
Fairfield 32.8% lone person
Fairfield — Lone Person: 32.8% Fairfield — Couple Families: 34.0% Fairfield — Group Household: 19.7% Fairfield — One Parent Families: 10.7% Fairfield — Other Families: 2.7%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 54.5% renting
St Lucia — Owned Outright: 27.3% St Lucia — Mortgage: 18.2% St Lucia — Renting: 54.5%
Fairfield 42.7% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 22.7% Fairfield — Mortgage: 34.5% Fairfield — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

St Lucia Fairfield
Bachelor Degree 21.8% / 25.8%
St Lucia — Bachelor Degree: 21.8% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 25.8%
Postgraduate Degree 17.7% / 12.8%
St Lucia — Postgraduate Degree: 17.7% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 9.1%
St Lucia — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.0% / 6.3%
St Lucia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.9%
St Lucia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.8%).

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.

St Lucia Fairfield
China 7.4% / 1.4%
St Lucia — China: 7.4% Fairfield — China: 1.4%
England 3.0% / 3.0%
St Lucia — England: 3.0% Fairfield — England: 3.0%
India 2.8% / 2.1%
St Lucia — India: 2.8% Fairfield — India: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.8% / 2.1%
St Lucia — New Zealand: 1.8% Fairfield — New Zealand: 2.1%
Malaysia 2.6% / —
St Lucia — Malaysia: 2.6% Fairfield — Malaysia: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.3%
St Lucia — Vietnam: not among its largest Fairfield — Vietnam: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 33.0% houses
St Lucia — Houses: 33.0% St Lucia — Flats / Apartments: 60.2% St Lucia — Townhouses: 6.9%
Fairfield 62.9% houses
Fairfield — Houses: 62.9% Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 28.7% Fairfield — Townhouses: 8.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

St Lucia Fairfield
Median house price $2,120,000 $1,224,000
Median unit price $830,550 $755,500
Median land price $1,567,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 55 sales
 30 days
from 21 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.

St Lucia Fairfield
2 bed $820K / $740K
St Lucia — 2 bed: $820K (120 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $740K (13 sales)

120 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.27M / $908K
St Lucia — 3 bed: $1.27M (50 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $908K (6 sales)

50 vs 6 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.

St Lucia Fairfield
2 bed $1.57M / $1.08M
St Lucia — 2 bed: $1.57M (9 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $1.08M (6 sales)

9 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.82M / $1.18M
St Lucia — 3 bed: $1.82M (19 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.18M (34 sales)

19 vs 34 sales

4 bed $2.17M / $1.4M
St Lucia — 4 bed: $2.17M (36 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.4M (17 sales)

36 vs 17 sales

Development activity

St Lucia Fairfield
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

St Lucia Fairfield
Houses 2.0%
$875/wk on $2.27M
 —
Units 3.7%
$650/wk on $925K
 —

Ranking within QLD

St Lucia Fairfield
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 17% of QLD —

Liveability

Fairfield is more walkable (88 vs 71); St Lucia scores higher overall (87 vs 77).

St Lucia Fairfield
Grade A+ A
Score 87/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fairfield carries more crime risk (76 vs 39).

St Lucia Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
39/100
 High
76/100
Flood —
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
 15
within 5 km

Schools

St Lucia Fairfield
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
St Lucia Campus, 0.0 km
 3
St Lucia Campus, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 28.2% 6.8%

Schools in St Lucia

  • Ironside State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Fairfield

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

Amenities in the suburb

St Lucia Fairfield
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 38 5
Parks & reserves 21 8
Childcare 5 0
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

St Lucia Fairfield
Walkability score 71/100 88/100
Distance to Brisbane 6.8 km
+22% vs other
 5.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 11 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 433.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 225.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 4067
 2.0%
postcode 4103
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 4067
 29
postcode 4103

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.

St Lucia Fairfield
Car (driver) 37.1% / 46.0%
St Lucia — Car (driver): 37.1% Fairfield — Car (driver): 46.0%
Worked from Home 34.9% / 26.9%
St Lucia — Worked from Home: 34.9% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 26.9%
Bus 10.7% / 7.4%
St Lucia — Bus: 10.7% Fairfield — Bus: 7.4%
Walked Only 8.0% / 4.9%
St Lucia — Walked Only: 8.0% Fairfield — Walked Only: 4.9%
Train 2.6% / 6.5%
St Lucia — Train: 2.6% Fairfield — Train: 6.5%
Bicycle 3.5% / 4.0%
St Lucia — Bicycle: 3.5% Fairfield — Bicycle: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.0%).

Setting

St Lucia Fairfield
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.8 km 12.8 km

NBN connectivity

St Lucia Fairfield
Connectivity score 79/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
5,218 premises
 5%
488 premises

Climate

St Lucia Fairfield
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

St Lucia Fairfield
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.25 pphm
same for both

Council rates

St Lucia Fairfield
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

St Lucia Fairfield
Division Ryan Moreton
Member Elizabeth Watson-Brown Julie-Ann Campbell
Party The Greens Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

St Lucia Fairfield
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

St Lucia

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

Fairfield

Inner Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with St Lucia

St Lucia vs West End St Lucia vs Indooroopilly St Lucia vs Toowong St Lucia vs Taringa St Lucia vs Yeronga St Lucia vs Highgate Hill

Other comparisons with Fairfield

Fairfield vs Annerley Fairfield vs Woolloongabba Fairfield vs Yeronga Fairfield vs Dutton Park
Full data on St Lucia 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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