New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Fairlight NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Fairlight, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Fairlight NSW is 6,141 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Fairlight is $1,491 per week ($77,532 per year). Median rent in Fairlight is $720 per week ($3,120 per month). Fairlight has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Fairlight has a population density of 5256.4 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Fairlight is England. The most common religion is No Religion (53% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairlight is $3,467.

There were 22 recorded offences in Fairlight in 2025-26, a rate of 4 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (10 offences).

Fairlight Map

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Fairlight Population

residents (Census 2021)

Fairlight Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,491/wk

$77,532 per year

#127 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$720/wk

$3,120 per month

#80 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

39years

1 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$3,467/mo

Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.9 per bedroom

Fairlight Demographics

Gender Split

Male 46.8% (2,873) Female 53.2% (3,269)

Population Density

5256.4

people per km²

6,141 people · 1.2 km²

Households

2.4

Avg household size

0.9

Persons per bedroom

$4,187

Family income/wk

Fairlight Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Fairlight Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

53.0% 805 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

47.0% 713 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Fairlight Country of Birth

Australia

79.8%

England

15.4%

Brazil

1.0%

France

0.9%

Canada

0.8%

Germany

0.6%

India

0.4%

Chile

0.4%

China

0.4%

Hong Kong

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Fairlight Religion

No Religion

53.4%

Catholic

20.9%

Anglican

15.1%

Not stated

5.3%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

1.8%

Uniting Church

1.5%

Christian (other)

1.2%

Eastern Orthodox

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Fairlight Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

86.2%

Year 10 or equivalent

9.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

3.1%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Fairlight Languages Spoken at Home

Other

21.8%

French

17.5%

Spanish

14.8%

Portuguese

11.8%

German

10.9%

Italian

10.9%

Mandarin

8.7%

Afrikaans

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Fairlight Employment

💼

Employed full-time

46.8% 2,178 people

⏰

Employed part-time

21.8% 1,014 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.5% 116 people

🏠

Not in labour force

28.9% 1,343 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Fairlight Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

47.8%

Postgraduate Degree

20.5%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

15.4%

Certificate III/IV

9.9%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.4%

Certificate I/II

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Fairlight Occupation

Professionals

44.9%

Managers

25.7%

Clerical & Administrative

9.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

5.9%

Community & Personal Service

5.9%

Sales Workers

5.1%

Labourers

1.7%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Fairlight Field of Study

Management & Commerce

32.0%

Society & Culture

18.2%

Health

9.8%

Creative Arts

9.6%

Engineering

7.7%

Architecture & Building

6.1%

Education

6.0%

Natural & Physical Sciences

3.7%

Information Technology

3.2%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

1.9%

Agriculture & Environment

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Fairlight Dwelling Types

Separate house

53.9%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

30.5%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

15.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Fairlight Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.3%

$1-$149/wk

0.4%

$150-$299/wk

0.5%

$300-$399/wk

0.9%

$400-$499/wk

2.1%

$500-$649/wk

1.4%

$650-$799/wk

3.2%

$800-$999/wk

2.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

4.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

4.8%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

10.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

4.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.4%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

5.0%

$4,000+/wk

41.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Fairlight Marital Status

💍

Married

47.3% 2,403

↔️

Separated

2.2% 113

📋

Divorced

8.6% 439

🕊️

Widowed

3.3% 166

👤

Never married

38.5% 1,957

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Fairlight Ancestry

English

34.7%

Australian

22.3%

Irish

11.5%

Scottish

9.6%

Other

9.1%

German

3.4%

Italian

3.1%

Dutch

1.5%

French

1.4%

Chinese

1.4%

Welsh

1.1%

New Zealander

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Fairlight School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

29.9%

Pre-school

15.0%

Secondary — Government

13.0%

Vocational Education

11.4%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

11.0%

Secondary — Catholic

10.4%

Primary — Catholic

5.8%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Fairlight Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

2.1% 253

✅

No need for assistance

97.9% 11,553

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Fairlight Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

20.5% 1,003

—

Not a volunteer

79.5% 3,887

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Fairlight Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

8.9%

$300-$449/mo

1.6%

$450-$599/mo

1.3%

$600-$799/mo

2.9%

$800-$999/mo

1.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

7.3%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

8.6%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

18.0%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

17.2%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

32.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Fairlight How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

52.0%

Did not go to work

25.9%

Walked only

7.4%

Bus

4.7%

Motorbike/Scooter

2.4%

Car (passenger)

2.4%

Ferry

2.1%

Bicycle

1.5%

Truck

0.6%

Other

0.6%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.3%

Train

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Fairlight Car Ownership

0 vehicles

6.8%

1 vehicle

50.1%

2 vehicles

33.4%

3 vehicles

6.7%

4+ vehicles

3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Fairlight Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

9.5%

2 bedrooms

34.0%

3 bedrooms

38.2%

4 bedrooms

14.0%

5 bedrooms

3.7%

6+ bedrooms

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Fairlight Population Mobility

19.0%

moved in the last year

49.2%

moved in the last 5 years

3.2%

unemployment rate (Census)

70.0%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Fairlight Indigenous Population

0.4%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Indigenous residents

11,810

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Fairlight Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

317

Asthma

189

Arthritis

142

Heart disease

128

Cancer

Diabetes

Lung condition

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Fairlight Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.1%

$1-$149/wk

3.2%

$150-$299/wk

2.6%

$300-$399/wk

1.3%

$400-$499/wk

1.0%

$500-$649/wk

1.8%

$650-$799/wk

5.7%

$800-$999/wk

6.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

7.5%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.7%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

16.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.5%

$3,500+/wk

17.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Fairlight Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

44.5%

Couple — no children

30.7%

Couple — no children under 15

16.2%

One parent — no children under 15

4.7%

One parent — children under 15

3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Fairlight Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.1% 5

🏅

Previously served

1.6% 78

👤

Never served

98.3% 4,820

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Fairlight Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

11.3% 555

—

Did not provide

88.7% 4,336

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Fairlight Children Ever Born

No children

44.1%

1 child

13.2%

2 children

28.0%

3 children

12.0%

4 children

2.3%

5+ children

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Fairlight When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

131

1971–1980

124

1981–1990

208

1991–2000

229

2001–2010

475

2011–2015

341

2016

2017

115

2018

2019

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Fairlight Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

26.1%

5–14 hours

37.1%

15–29 hours

14.4%

30+ hours

6.2%

Did not do domestic work

16.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Fairlight Household Size

1 person

23.7%

2 persons

36.5%

3 persons

17.8%

4 persons

16.0%

5 persons

4.9%

6+ persons

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Fairlight Where Residents Moved From

Same address

4,728

Moved from NSW

631

Moved — same area (SA2)

330

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from SA

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Fairlight Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

88.8%

Step family — no other children

9.0%

Blended family — no other children

1.7%

Other couple — children only

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Fairlight Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 22 total

Theft

Sexual Offences

Assault

Property Damage

Drug Offences

Other Against Property

Weapons

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Fairlight Schools

schools nearby

government

1135

avg ICSEA score

11,256

total students

Balgowlah Heights Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 651 students

1177

ICSEA

Queenwood Independent

Combined · K-12 · 816 students

1172

ICSEA

Balgowlah North Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 381 students

1169

ICSEA

St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 232 students

1168

ICSEA

Seaforth Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 394 students

1165

ICSEA

Farmhouse Montessori School Independent

Primary · K-6 · 37 students

1165

ICSEA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 330 students

1159

ICSEA

Manly Village Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 532 students

1151

ICSEA

Manly West Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 761 students

1147

ICSEA

Allambie Heights Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 406 students

1138

ICSEA

Harbord Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 881 students

1137

ICSEA

Stella Maris College Independent

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,006 students

1135

ICSEA

St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 163 students

1134

ICSEA

Manly Vale Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 553 students

1129

ICSEA

St Kieran's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 141 students

1122

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 26 schools

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Fairlight with map →

Fairlight Rent Prices & Affordability

22%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $3,251/wk

Median Rent $720/wk

Rent-to-Income 22.1%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Fairlight

Your weekly income

≈ $14,088/month

Median rent $720/wk

Left after rent $2,531/wk

Rent share 22.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Woolloomooloo

Income: $1,368/wk Rent: $500/wk Save: $220/wk

Edgecliff

Income: $1,510/wk Rent: $600/wk Save: $120/wk

Waverton

Income: $1,528/wk Rent: $600/wk Save: $120/wk

Naremburn

Income: $1,593/wk Rent: $602/wk Save: $118/wk

Bellevue Hill

Income: $1,575/wk Rent: $650/wk Save: $70/wk

Rushcutters Bay

Income: $1,480/wk Rent: $450/wk Save: $270/wk

Jerrabomberra

Income: $1,485/wk Rent: $490/wk Save: $230/wk

Bungendore

Income: $1,298/wk Rent: $510/wk Save: $210/wk

Fairlight vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Mount Riverview

Pop: 3,074 Income: $918/wk Rent: $450/wk

Forest Hill (NSW)

Pop: 3,081 Income: $932/wk Rent: $310/wk

Tenambit

Pop: 3,088 Income: $638/wk Rent: $345/wk

Berry

Pop: 3,098 Income: $775/wk Rent: $520/wk

Bourkelands

Pop: 3,113 Income: $1,003/wk Rent: $360/wk

Hunterview

Pop: 3,113 Income: $972/wk Rent: $398/wk

Compare Fairlight

Fairlight vs Mount Riverview →Fairlight vs Forest Hill (NSW) →Fairlight vs Tenambit →Fairlight vs Berry →

Frequently Asked Questions About Fairlight

What is the population of Fairlight NSW?

The population of Fairlight NSW is 6,141 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 5256.4 people per km².Fairlight is ranked #1,281 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Fairlight?

The median personal income in Fairlight NSW is $1,491 per week, or $77,532 per year.The median household income is $3,251 per week.Family income is $4,187 per week.Fairlight is ranked #127 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Fairlight?

Median rent in Fairlight NSW is $720 per week ($3,120 per month).Rent represents 22.1% of household income, which is considered affordable.Fairlight ranks #80 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Fairlight?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fairlight NSW is $3,467. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Fairlight?

The median age in Fairlight NSW is 39 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Fairlight a good suburb to live in?

Fairlight is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 6,141.The median income is $1,491/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11485. All dollar figures in AUD.