Fairfield Heights vs Smithfield.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,295,000 and $1,235,500.
Smithfield (median $1,235,500) is roughly 5% cheaper to buy into than Fairfield Heights ($1,295,000). Over the past year, Fairfield Heights (+12.6%) ran 7.1 percentage points ahead of Smithfield (+5.5%) on house-price growth.
Fairfield Heights scores higher on walkability (20/100 vs 6/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Smithfield (951) sits above Fairfield Heights (941).
For buyers
Smithfield is the lower entry point at $1,235,500 median, 5% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Smithfield delivers the better gross yield (3.04% vs 2.69%), but Fairfield Heights has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Smithfield edges out on average school ICSEA (951 vs 941).
Common questions
Is Fairfield Heights or Smithfield cheaper to buy in?
Smithfield has the lower median house price at $1,235,500, roughly 5% below Fairfield Heights ($1,295,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Fairfield Heights or Smithfield?
Over the past 12 months, Fairfield Heights grew +12.6% vs +5.5% in Smithfield, a gap of 7.1 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Fairfield Heights or Smithfield have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Smithfield scores 951 vs 941 in Fairfield Heights. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Fairfield Heights or Smithfield?
Fairfield Heights scores 20/100 on walkability vs 6/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Fairfield Heights or Smithfield?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.04% in Smithfield vs 2.69% in Fairfield Heights. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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