Woolloongabba vs Fairfield

Woolloongabba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 32 in Fairfield. In Woolloongabba, most 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 Woolloongabba: a median of $1.52 million, against $1.22 million in Fairfield, and rent is higher there too. Woolloongabba is closer to the city centre: 4.4 km, against 5.3 km. On these figures, Woolloongabba tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Woolloongabba has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • Fairfield has more separate houses rather than flats (63% vs 30%)

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 $1,525,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Woolloongabba has a bigger rental market to choose from (72% vs 43%)
  • Fairfield leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Woolloongabba

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 37%)
  • But Fairfield carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Woolloongabba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (54.3% vs 4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Woolloongabba 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.

Woolloongabba 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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Walkability 94 / 88
Woolloongabba — Walkability: 94/100 Fairfield — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 7 / 24
Woolloongabba — Safety: 7/100 Fairfield — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Woolloongabba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Woolloongabba has more residents (8,687 vs 3,106); Fairfield has higher household incomes ($117,884 vs $96,876).

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Population 8,687
+64% vs other
 3,106
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +54.3% +4.2%
Median age 29 32
Median household income $96,876/yr $117,884/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+7% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
0-4 2.9% / 5.1%
Woolloongabba — 0-4: 2.9% Fairfield — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 4.9% / 8.6%
Woolloongabba — 5-14: 4.9% Fairfield — 5-14: 8.6%
15-19 5.2% / 5.5%
Woolloongabba — 15-19: 5.2% Fairfield — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 20.1% / 12.7%
Woolloongabba — 20-24: 20.1% Fairfield — 20-24: 12.7%
25-34 32.2% / 23.1%
Woolloongabba — 25-34: 32.2% Fairfield — 25-34: 23.1%
35-44 12.7% / 15.3%
Woolloongabba — 35-44: 12.7% Fairfield — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 8.1% / 12.1%
Woolloongabba — 45-54: 8.1% Fairfield — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 6.2% / 9.7%
Woolloongabba — 55-64: 6.2% Fairfield — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 3.6% / 5.1%
Woolloongabba — 65-74: 3.6% Fairfield — 65-74: 5.1%
75-84 2.5% / 2.0%
Woolloongabba — 75-84: 2.5% Fairfield — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 1.6% / 1.0%
Woolloongabba — 85+: 1.6% Fairfield — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Woolloongabba 44.0% lone person
Woolloongabba — Lone Person: 44.0% Woolloongabba — Couple Families: 18.2% Woolloongabba — Group Household: 26.6% Woolloongabba — One Parent Families: 7.9% Woolloongabba — Other Families: 3.4%
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.

Woolloongabba 72.5% renting
Woolloongabba — Owned Outright: 10.3% Woolloongabba — Mortgage: 17.2% Woolloongabba — Renting: 72.5%
Fairfield 42.7% renting
Fairfield — Owned Outright: 22.7% Fairfield — Mortgage: 34.5% Fairfield — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
China 6.9% / 1.4%
Woolloongabba — China: 6.9% Fairfield — China: 1.4%
England 2.4% / 3.0%
Woolloongabba — England: 2.4% Fairfield — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 3.1% / 2.1%
Woolloongabba — New Zealand: 3.1% Fairfield — New Zealand: 2.1%
India 2.7% / 2.1%
Woolloongabba — India: 2.7% Fairfield — India: 2.1%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.3%
Woolloongabba — Vietnam: 1.5% Fairfield — Vietnam: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

Qualifications

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

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Bachelor Degree 28.4% / 25.8%
Woolloongabba — Bachelor Degree: 28.4% Fairfield — Bachelor Degree: 25.8%
Postgraduate Degree 10.6% / 12.8%
Woolloongabba — Postgraduate Degree: 10.6% Fairfield — Postgraduate Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.2% / 9.1%
Woolloongabba — Certificate III & IV: 9.2% Fairfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.3%
Woolloongabba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Fairfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.9%
Woolloongabba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Fairfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Woolloongabba 69.5% flats / apartments
Woolloongabba — Flats / Apartments: 69.5% Woolloongabba — Houses: 29.8% Woolloongabba — Townhouses: 0.7%
Fairfield 28.7% flats / apartments
Fairfield — Flats / Apartments: 28.7% Fairfield — Houses: 62.9% Fairfield — Townhouses: 8.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Median house price $1,525,000 $1,224,000
Median unit price $759,000 $755,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 44 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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
2 bed $790K / $740K
Woolloongabba — 2 bed: $790K (127 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $740K (13 sales)

127 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $908K
Woolloongabba — 3 bed: $1.08M (19 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $908K (6 sales)

19 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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
2 bed $1.25M / $1.08M
Woolloongabba — 2 bed: $1.25M (8 sales) Fairfield — 2 bed: $1.08M (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.5M / $1.18M
Woolloongabba — 3 bed: $1.5M (29 sales) Fairfield — 3 bed: $1.18M (34 sales)

29 vs 34 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $1.4M
Woolloongabba — 4 bed: $1.8M (12 sales) Fairfield — 4 bed: $1.4M (17 sales)

12 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Woolloongabba 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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Houses 3.8%
$885/wk on $1.22M
 —
Units 4.5%
$700/wk on $802K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Woolloongabba Fairfield
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Schools Higher than 8% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 99% 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 93% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of QLD —

Liveability

Fairfield scores higher overall (77 vs 57).

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Grade B A
Score 57/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Woolloongabba carries more crime risk (93 vs 76).

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 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 9
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane City, 2.4 km
 3
St Lucia Campus, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 11.5% 6.8%

Schools in Woolloongabba

  • Buranda State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Australian International Islamic College - Buranda Campus Independent · Combined
  • Narbethong State Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Fairfield

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

Amenities in the suburb

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 48 5
Parks & reserves 13 8
Childcare 5 0
GPs 6 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Walkability score 94/100 88/100
Distance to Brisbane 4.4 km 5.3 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 11 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 668.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 225.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 4102
 2.0%
postcode 4103
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 4102
 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.

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Car (driver) 43.6% / 46.0%
Woolloongabba — Car (driver): 43.6% Fairfield — Car (driver): 46.0%
Worked from Home 21.2% / 26.9%
Woolloongabba — Worked from Home: 21.2% Fairfield — Worked from Home: 26.9%
Bus 13.9% / 7.4%
Woolloongabba — Bus: 13.9% Fairfield — Bus: 7.4%
Walked Only 9.7% / 4.9%
Woolloongabba — Walked Only: 9.7% Fairfield — Walked Only: 4.9%
Train 4.2% / 6.5%
Woolloongabba — Train: 4.2% Fairfield — Train: 6.5%

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

Setting

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.8 km 12.8 km

NBN connectivity

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Connectivity score 84/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
5,237 premises
 5%
488 premises

Climate

Woolloongabba 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)

Woolloongabba 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

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

Federal electorate

Woolloongabba Fairfield
Division Griffith Moreton
Member Renee Coffey Julie-Ann Campbell
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Woolloongabba

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

Fairfield

Inner Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Woolloongabba

Woolloongabba vs Coorparoo Woolloongabba vs South Brisbane Woolloongabba vs Annerley Woolloongabba vs Kangaroo Point Woolloongabba vs Greenslopes Woolloongabba vs East Brisbane

Other comparisons with Fairfield

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