Fairfield vs Carramar.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,250,000 and $1,125,000. Carramar edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Carramar (median $1,125,000) is roughly 11% cheaper to buy into than Fairfield ($1,250,000). Over the past year, Carramar (+13.6%) ran 8.6 percentage points ahead of Fairfield (+5%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Fairfield (949) sits above Carramar (943). Carramar skews owner-occupied (49%), Fairfield runs more rental-dense (39% owner).
For buyers
Carramar is the lower entry point at $1,125,000 median, 11% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Carramar carries both higher gross yield (3.00% vs 2.79%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Fairfield edges out on average school ICSEA (949 vs 943). Fairfield also has a higher family-household share (74% vs 64%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Fairfield or Carramar cheaper to buy in?
Carramar has the lower median house price at $1,125,000, roughly 11% below Fairfield ($1,250,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Fairfield or Carramar?
Over the past 12 months, Carramar grew +13.6% vs +5% in Fairfield, a gap of 8.6 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 or Carramar have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Fairfield scores 949 vs 943 in Carramar. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Fairfield or Carramar?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.00% in Carramar vs 2.79% in Fairfield. 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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