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Fairfield vs Penrith

Name: Fairfield vs Penrith — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 19 km apart · Fairfield profile · Penrith profile

Fairfield Penrith

Penrith and Fairfield are two large, nearby areas in Greater Sydney with very different social profiles. Fairfield is a major hub for migrants, with 56.0% of people born overseas and 69.7% using a language other than English at home. In contrast, Penrith has a much higher share of people born in Australia and a typical weekly personal income that is far higher at $866, compared to $485 in Fairfield. Penrith also has a higher proportion of adults working or looking for work (62.4% versus 40.8% in Fairfield) and a higher share of residents with a bachelor degree or higher.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of children under 15, though Penrith has a slightly higher proportion at 21.2%. While they share similar typical weekly rents around $400, the economic gap between them has widened since 2011. This is seen in the increasing difference in typical personal incomes and the growing gap in the number of households earning over $3,000 a week, which is now 6.9 percentage points higher in Penrith.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 32.6 pts higher in Fairfield Other language: 50.1 pts higher in Fairfield Participation: 21.5 pts higher in Penrith Limited English: 20.7 pts higher in Fairfield Personal income: $381 higher in Penrith

Demographics & Identity

Population in Fairfield in Penrith +9,189 larger in Penrith gap steady

208,475 87th pct 217,664 87th pct

Median age in Fairfield in Penrith +4 yrs older in Fairfield gap widening

39 yrs 33rd pct 35 yrs 14th pct

Age structure

24.9% Young adults (25–44) +4.8 pts ▸ 29.7%

26.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.4 pts 23.1%

17.9% Children (0–14) +3.3 pts ▸ 21.2%

16.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.8 pts 13.0%

14.0% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.0 pts 13.0%

Marital status

46.5% Married ◂ +1.0 pts 45.5%

34.7% Never married +3.2 pts ▸ 37.9%

9.0% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 8.5%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +1.5 pts 4.4%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Fairfield Penrith

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

38.6% Australia +32.7 pts ▸ 71.3%

16.3% Vietnam ◂ +16.1 pts 0.2%

0.3% India +2.8 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.4% England +2.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.1% Philippines +1.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.0% New Zealand +0.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.8% China ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%

1.5% Italy ◂ +1.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

8.8% Australian +24.4 pts ▸ 33.3%

7.2% English +23.0 pts ▸ 30.2%

19.5% Vietnamese ◂ +19.2 pts 0.3%

13.1% Chinese ◂ +11.0 pts 2.1%

1.4% Irish +6.8 pts ▸ 8.2%

1.0% Scottish +5.7 pts ▸ 6.7%

5.1% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 3.7%

0.8% Indian +3.1 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.6% Filipino +1.9 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.8% German +2.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.1% Dutch +1.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.7% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Language used at home

23.4% English only +50.8 pts ▸ 74.2%

21.1% Vietnamese ◂ +20.8 pts 0.3%

9.3% Arabic ◂ +7.5 pts 1.8%

3.7% Cantonese ◂ +3.3 pts 0.3%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.5 pts 0.8%

1.9% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 0.5%

0.1% Punjabi +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.6% Tagalog +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.5% Hindi +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.3% Christianity +4.0 pts ▸ 54.3%

14.8% No religion +14.5 pts ▸ 29.3%

19.9% Buddhism ◂ +18.8 pts 1.1%

7.2% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 7.3%

6.3% Islam ◂ +3.3 pts 3.1%

0.6% Hinduism +2.7 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.9% Other religions +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Fairfield in Penrith +24 more in Penrith

56 87th pct 80 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Fairfield in Penrith +0.23 more in Penrith

1.50 8th pct 1.73 14th pct

Students in Fairfield in Penrith +3,907 more in Penrith

35,160 87th pct 39,067 87th pct

Avg size in Fairfield in Penrith +133 larger in Fairfield

628 92nd pct 495 82nd pct

ICSEA in Fairfield in Penrith +41 higher in Penrith

961 43rd pct 1,001 68th pct

Highest year of school

51.4% Year 12 ◂ +1.5 pts 50.0%

13.6% Year 10 +12.9 pts ▸ 26.5%

23.5% Year 9 or below ◂ +13.3 pts 10.2%

4.0% Year 11 +2.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

Highest qualification level

23.9% Certificate III / IV +10.2 pts ▸ 34.1%

25.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +5.1 pts 20.3%

17.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.9 pts 15.2%

4.7% Postgraduate degree +2.4 pts ▸ 7.1%

2.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

1.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 2.3%

Field of qualification

20.2% Management & commerce +0.2 pts ▸ 20.3%

13.2% Engineering & related +1.9 pts ▸ 15.1%

10.5% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 11.4%

7.0% Health +1.7 pts ▸ 8.7%

6.5% Education +0.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

5.3% Architecture & building +1.0 pts ▸ 6.2%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.9% Information technology ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

2.8% Creative arts +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%

0.6% Agriculture & environment +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Fairfield in Penrith +$381 higher in Penrith gap widening

$485 8th pct $866 74th pct

Household income in Fairfield in Penrith +$513 higher in Penrith gap widening

$1,390 49th pct $1,903 81st pct

Family income in Fairfield in Penrith +$706 higher in Penrith gap widening

$1,482 22nd pct $2,188 77th pct

Household income distribution

27.3% $1,500–$2,999 +6.5 pts ▸ 33.9%

31.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.5 pts 24.5%

19.2% Under $650 ◂ +6.5 pts 12.7%

8.3% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 12.2%

7.8% $4,000 or more +3.0 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

55.2% Under $650 ◂ +18.8 pts 36.5%

27.0% $650–$1,499 +7.3 pts ▸ 34.3%

8.9% $1,500–$2,999 +10.1 pts ▸ 19.0%

1.1% $3,000 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 2.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

5.4% Asthma +3.6 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.9% Mental health +4.0 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.5% Other condition ◂ +0.5 pts 7.9%

7.1% Arthritis +0.8 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.8% Diabetes ◂ +1.3 pts 5.5%

3.6% Heart disease even 3.6%

1.9% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.1% Lung condition +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.9% None ◂ +5.5 pts 63.3%

15.2% One condition +3.8 pts ▸ 19.0%

4.5% Two conditions +1.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.6% Three or more +0.3 pts ▸ 2.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Fairfield in Penrith +9,400 larger in Penrith

1,525 73rd pct 10,925 92nd pct

Median age in Fairfield in Penrith +3 yrs older in Fairfield

25 yrs 50th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Fairfield in Penrith +$214 higher in Penrith

$507 36th pct $721 81st pct

Household income in Fairfield in Penrith +$641 higher in Penrith

$1,233 34th pct $1,874 84th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Fairfield in Penrith +0.4 larger in Fairfield gap widening

3.2 93rd pct 2.8 87th pct

Family composition

63.0% Couples with children ◂ +1.5 pts 61.5%

15.5% Couples without children +4.9 pts ▸ 20.4%

19.9% One-parent families ◂ +2.9 pts 17.0%

1.6% Other families ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

Household size

24.5% 2 people +5.0 pts ▸ 29.5%

17.5% 1 person +4.2 pts ▸ 21.8%

18.2% 4 people ◂ +0.6 pts 17.6%

17.9% 3 people even 17.9%

11.3% 5 people ◂ +3.1 pts 8.2%

10.5% 6 or more ◂ +5.5 pts 4.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Fairfield in Penrith +$10 higher in Penrith gap narrowing

$390 86th pct $400 87th pct

Mortgage in Fairfield in Penrith +$167 higher in Penrith gap narrowing

$2,000 82nd pct $2,167 87th pct

People / bedroom in Fairfield in Penrith +0.20 higher in Fairfield gap widening

1.00 89th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

27.0% Owned with a mortgage +12.4 pts ▸ 39.4%

38.1% Rented ◂ +4.7 pts 33.4%

31.5% Owned outright ◂ +6.7 pts 24.7%

1.9% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%

1.6% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

72.2% Separate house +6.1 pts ▸ 78.3%

14.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.6 pts 9.1%

12.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.3 pts 12.2%

0.3% Other dwelling even 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

39.5% 3 bedrooms +1.4 pts ▸ 40.9%

26.2% 4 bedrooms +6.1 pts ▸ 32.2%

18.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.2 pts 12.8%

10.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 9.6%

4.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.3 pts 2.8%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

48.4% $350–$549 +9.1 pts ▸ 57.4%

23.8% $200–$349 ◂ +3.2 pts 20.6%

12.8% Under $200 ◂ +4.5 pts 8.3%

9.9% $550–$749 ◂ +0.6 pts 9.2%

1.0% $750 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.4% $1,800–$2,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 42.1%

24.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +2.0 pts 22.2%

18.5% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 19.4%

16.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +6.6 pts 10.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Fairfield in Penrith +258 more in Penrith

1,102 87th pct 1,360 88th pct

Stops/1k in Fairfield in Penrith +0.96 more in Penrith

5.29 75th pct 6.25 85th pct

Departures/1k in Fairfield in Penrith +53.8 more in Penrith

1,358.6 85th pct 1,412.4 85th pct

PT routes in Fairfield in Penrith +18 more in Penrith

32 79th pct 50 86th pct

Stop walk in Fairfield in Penrith +10 longer in Penrith

2 14th pct 12 47th pct

Drive to city in Fairfield in Penrith +7 longer in Penrith

31 37th pct 38 43rd pct

How people get to work

47.5% Car (driver) +0.4 pts ▸ 47.9%

23.5% Worked at home +2.8 pts ▸ 26.3%

4.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.9 pts 3.5%

1.9% Train ◂ +0.5 pts 1.4%

1.3% Walked ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.6% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.2% Bicycle even 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

32.1% 2 vehicles +5.0 pts ▸ 37.1%

34.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 34.1%

13.9% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 13.3%

10.6% No vehicle ◂ +4.0 pts 6.6%

8.9% 4 or more even 8.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

11.5% Health care & social assistance +1.7 pts ▸ 13.2%

8.4% Construction +3.6 pts ▸ 12.0%

11.4% Manufacturing ◂ +4.0 pts 7.4%

11.0% Retail trade ◂ +1.0 pts 10.0%

6.1% Education & training +1.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.4 pts 7.4%

4.2% Public administration & safety +2.7 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.6 pts 5.1%

5.2% Professional & technical ◂ +0.5 pts 4.6%

4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.7 pts 4.0%

4.1% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.7%

3.8% Wholesale trade ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

16.9% Professionals +0.1 pts ▸ 17.0%

14.4% Clerical & administrative +1.9 pts ▸ 16.3%

12.1% Technicians & trades +1.8 pts ▸ 13.9%

13.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.4 pts 11.1%

13.2% Labourers ◂ +4.1 pts 9.1%

8.5% Managers +2.8 pts ▸ 11.3%

9.8% Community & personal service +1.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

8.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 8.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Fairfield in Penrith +6 higher in Penrith

2 14th pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Fairfield in Penrith +5 higher in Penrith

1 0th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Fairfield in Penrith +6 higher in Penrith

2 14th pct 8 71st pct

IEO decile in Fairfield in Penrith +2 higher in Penrith

4 36th pct 6 57th pct

IRSAD score in Fairfield in Penrith +96 higher in Penrith

885 13th pct 981 70th pct

ERP in Fairfield in Penrith +18,024 higher in Penrith

213,677 87th pct 231,701 87th pct

Growth in Fairfield in Penrith +3.5 pts higher in Penrith

2.2% 35th pct 5.7% 68th pct

Businesses in Fairfield in Penrith +2,327 higher in Fairfield

19,113 87th pct 16,786 86th pct

Approvals in Fairfield in Penrith +73 higher in Penrith

868 86th pct 941 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Fairfield in Penrith +41 higher in Fairfield

1,030 78th pct 990 76th pct

Max temp in Fairfield in Penrith +0.6 higher in Penrith

24.8 58th pct 25.5 63rd pct

Min temp in Fairfield in Penrith +0.5 higher in Fairfield

11.4 54th pct 10.9 45th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Fairfield in Penrith +3,452 higher in Penrith

5,933 27th pct 9,385 57th pct

Assault/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +423 higher in Penrith

655 27th pct 1,078 57th pct

Sexual/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +151 higher in Penrith

157 24th pct 308 62nd pct

Robbery/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +9 higher in Penrith

27 56th pct 36 68th pct

Burglary/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +204 higher in Penrith

131 1st pct 334 28th pct

Theft/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +646 higher in Penrith

586 15th pct 1,231 49th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +137 higher in Penrith

461 63rd pct 598 75th pct

Property damage/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +373 higher in Penrith

406 15th pct 779 54th pct

Drugs/100k in Fairfield in Penrith +8 higher in Fairfield

474 50th pct 467 49th pct

5-yr change in Fairfield in Penrith +9.9 pts higher in Penrith

-22.3% 9th pct -12.4% 16th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Fairfield in Penrith +0.5 higher in Fairfield

6.8 87th pct 6.4 84th pct

Types ≤15 min in Fairfield in Penrith +0.6 more in Fairfield

6.7 88th pct 6.1 82nd pct

15-min city in Fairfield in Penrith +8.0 pts higher in Fairfield

86.4% 88th pct 78.4% 82nd pct

Walk to shops in Fairfield in Penrith +4.6 pts higher in Fairfield

77.8% 83rd pct 73.2% 80th pct

Walk to transit in Fairfield in Penrith +6.0 pts higher in Fairfield

98.3% 94th pct 92.3% 83rd pct

Walk to school in Fairfield in Penrith +5.1 pts higher in Fairfield

91.1% 89th pct 86.0% 84th pct

Walk to a park in Fairfield in Penrith +3.8 pts higher in Fairfield

96.3% 83rd pct 92.5% 77th pct

Walk to health in Fairfield in Penrith +2.4 pts higher in Fairfield

60.4% 78th pct 58.0% 77th pct

Amenities/1k in Fairfield in Penrith +5.5 more in Penrith

9.7 9th pct 15.2 35th pct

Intersections/km² in Fairfield in Penrith +54 higher in Fairfield

116 86th pct 62 79th pct

Mean slope in Fairfield in Penrith +0.4 pts higher in Penrith

4.2% 42nd pct 4.6% 49th pct

Compare Fairfield with nearby areas

Cumberland Liverpool Canterbury-Bankstown Blacktown Parramatta Strathfield Penrith Canada Bay

Compare Penrith with nearby areas

Blacktown Liverpool Fairfield Camden Cumberland The Hills Shire Parramatta Blue Mountains

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Fairfield vs Penrith [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA12850/fairfield/vs/LGA16350/penrith