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Darfield, New Zealand

Canterbury · New Zealand

Darfield is a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand with a population of 3,380. Elevation: 669 ft (204 m). Average temperature: 52°F (11°C).

Data updated June 2026

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,380 Population 397/sq mi density
669 ft Elevation 204 meters
52°F Avg Temperature 11°C
33.8 in Annual Rain
Pacific / Auckland Timezone
$29,700 Median Income
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$29,700 median income, 1.6% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.5 / 5.0
$218,400 home value, $1,092/mo rent

Discover Darfield, New Zealand

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
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Full City Profile

About Darfield

Darfield

Darfield is a town in the Selwyn District of the South Island of New Zealand. It is 35 kilometres west of Christchurch and has a population of 3,590 as of June 2025.

People

Population3,380
Median Age42.1 yrs
Density397/mi²

Economy

B
Median Income$29,700
Per Capita$29,700
Unemployment1.6%

Housing

C+
Home Value$218,400
Rent$1,092
Ownership83.5%
Housing Units1,352

Climate

Avg Temp52°F (11°C)
Rain33.8 in/yr
Sunny Days275/yr
Elevation669 ft (204 m)
Population3,380
Population Density397 / sq mi
Elevation669 ft (204 m)
Coordinates-43.4833°, 172.1167°
TimezonePacific/Auckland
Country🇳🇿 New Zealand
State / ProvinceCanterbury
Average Temperature52°F (11°C)
January Average62°F (16°C)
July Average41°F (5°C)
Annual Precipitation33.8 inches (858 mm)
Annual Snowfall0.0 inches (0 cm)
Median Household Income$29,700
Median Age42.1 years

About Darfield

Darfield is a small town in New Zealand (Canterbury) with a population of 3,380. The city sits at an elevation of 669 feet (204 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 52°F (11°C). Temperatures range from 62°F in January to 41°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.

Darfield has a population of 3,380 with a density of 397 people per square mile, spread across 8.5 square miles. The median age is 42.1 years, 8% older than the national median of 38.9.

Population

3,380
Total Population
397
People / sq mi
42.1yrs
Median Age
8% above New Zealand avg
8.5mi²
Land Area

Language Spoken at Home

Other Languages 100.0%

Social Characteristics

Darfield vs New Zealand Average

The median household income in Darfield is $29,700, which is 60% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $29,700 (below the $39,052 national figure). The average weekly wage is $571, 60% lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate is 1.6% (below the 3.6% US average). The area has 311 business establishments.

Income: Darfield vs New Zealand

Commute Mode

Income

Median HH Income$29,700
60% below New Zealand avg
Per Capita Income$29,700
Avg Weekly Wage$571

Employment & Poverty

Unemployment1.6%
56% below New Zealand avg
Establishments (County)311

Business (County)

Tax & Cost of Living

Commute & Transportation

Walkability

The median home value in Darfield is $218,400, 23% below the national median of $281,900. Monthly rent averages $1,092 (6% below the national average of $1,163). 83.5% of housing units are owner-occupied (above the 65.4% national rate). There are 1,352 total housing units in the city. The home price-to-income ratio is 7.4x, making homeownership a significant financial stretch for most families.

Home Value Sources

Ownership Split

Home Values

Census Median$218,400
23% below New Zealand avg

Real Estate Market (Redfin)

Rental Costs

Census Median Rent$1,092
6% below New Zealand avg

Ownership & Property

Homeownership83.5%
Owner-Occupied83.5%
Renter-Occupied16.5%
Housing Units1,352

Property Tax

Climate in Darfield

Darfield has an average annual temperature of 11.7°C (53°F). The hottest month is Feb (16.3°C), the coldest is Jul (7°C). Average annual precipitation is 711 mm.

Month Avg °C / °F Min / Max °C Rain (mm)
Jan 16°C / 61°F 11.6° / 20.5° 41.2
Feb 16.3°C / 61°F 11.8° / 20.8° 58.1
Mar 14.4°C / 58°F 9.9° / 19° 50.9
Apr 12.1°C / 54°F 7.6° / 16.7° 61.5
May 10.2°C / 50°F 5.7° / 14.6° 86.6
Jun 7.6°C / 46°F 3.2° / 12° 73.4
Jul 7°C / 45°F 2.2° / 11.7° 60.3
Aug 8°C / 46°F 3.4° / 12.5° 88.9
Sep 9.6°C / 49°F 5° / 14.2° 39.2
Oct 11.2°C / 52°F 6.9° / 15.6° 45.8
Nov 12.8°C / 55°F 8.3° / 17.3° 41.4
Dec 14.8°C / 59°F 10.6° / 18.9° 63.5
Darfield experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 62°F in January while summers reach 41°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 275 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 33.8 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 669 feet.

Temperature

62°F Jan (16°C) 41°F Jul (5°C)
Annual Average51.7°F
4% below New Zealand avg
January Average62°F (16°C)
July Average41°F (5°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation669 ft (204 m)
Area8.5 sq mi (22.1 km²)
Population Density397/sq mi
Coordinates-43.4833°N, 172.1167°W
TimezonePacific/Auckland

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 33.8"
11% below New Zealand avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (May) 3.15"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.28"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

679 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.0. Most recent: M3.0 on Aug 30, 2025.

Sep 3, 2010 19 km NE of Methven, New Zealand M7.0 24 km
Jun 18, 1994 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand M6.8 69 km
Nov 24, 1995 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand M6.2 61 km
Feb 21, 2011 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand M6.1 47 km
Feb 10, 1990 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand M6.0 138 km
Jun 19, 1994 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand M6.0 47 km
Jun 13, 2011 9 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.9 51 km
Feb 14, 2016 12 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.8 53 km
Feb 10, 1990 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand M5.7 132 km
Feb 22, 2011 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.6 43 km
Jan 5, 2015 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand M5.6 86 km
Mar 30, 1992 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand M5.5 70 km
Sep 19, 2023 Canterbury, New Zealand M5.5 84 km
Feb 22, 2011 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.5 45 km
May 29, 1995 South Island of New Zealand M5.5 69 km
Jun 21, 1994 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand M5.4 52 km
Jun 13, 2011 10 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.2 53 km
Aug 29, 1996 74 km N of Amberley, New Zealand M5.2 122 km
Jun 21, 2011 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand M5.2 35 km
Jan 1, 2012 21 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.2 62 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tsunami History

7 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.5 m (21 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
2016 OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND Earthquake 6.5 m 2 113 km
1895 PIEGON BAY Meteorological 5.0 m - 67 km
1881 PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) Earthquake 3.0 m - 67 km
1856 S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND Unknown 1.0 m - 58 km
1869 NEW ZEALAND Unknown 0.6 m - 127 km
1922 SE. NEW ZEALAND Earthquake 0.4 m - 90 km
1978 OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND Meteorological - - 82 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 62°F (16°C) 3.0 in Warmest
February 61°F (16°C) 2.3 in Driest
March 58°F (15°C) 3.0 in
April 53°F (12°C) 2.8 in
May 47°F (8°C) 3.2 in Wettest
June 42°F (6°C) 2.4 in
July 41°F (5°C) 3.2 in Coldest
August 44°F (7°C) 3.2 in
September 48°F (9°C) 2.4 in
October 52°F (11°C) 3.0 in
November 55°F (13°C) 2.6 in
December 59°F (15°C) 2.9 in

Darfield has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 41°F in July to 62°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 33.8 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.2") and February the driest (2.3").

View full weather details →

Schools in Darfield

4 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
Greendale School - - - -
Darfield High School - - - -
Darfield Primary School - - - -
Darfield Plunket Rooms - - - -
View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Darfield

1 stations within ~55 km.

Station Genre Quality
Compass FM community radio, local news MP3 128 kbps

Museums in Darfield

NameTypeAddressPhoneAnnual Revenue
Glentunnel Museum

Libraries in Darfield

NameAddressStaffAnnual VisitsCirculationCollectionPrograms
Darfield Library0.0
Darfield Library0.0
Glentunnel Library and Post Office0.0

Hotels in Darfield

1 hotels within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Darfield Hotel

Restaurants in Darfield

1 restaurants within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Satkaar

Cafes in Darfield

1 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

The Fat Beagle Cafe

Monuments in Darfield

2 monuments within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Russell Flat School
War Memorial

Clinics in Darfield

1 clinics within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Darfield Medical Centre

Dentists in Darfield

1 dentists within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Lumino The Dentists

Veterinaries in Darfield

2 veterinaries within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Selwyn Rakaia Vets
Vetent

Train Stations in Darfield

1 train stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Darfield

Gas Stations in Darfield

5 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Allied
APL Fuelstop Sheffield
Challenge
G.A.S.
npd

Golf Courses in Darfield

1 golf courses within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Hororata Golf Course

Ski Resorts Near Darfield

8 ski resorts within range.

Resort Slopes (km) Lifts Peak (m) Price Season Night Park
Mount Hutt Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Porters Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mount Olympus Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mount Cheeseman Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mt Cheeseman Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Broken River Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Craigieburn Valley Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Temple Basin Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -

Airports Near Darfield

15 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Christchurch International AirportCHCLarge Airport
Anama airstrip-Small Airport
Ashburton AirportASGSmall Airport
Dunsandel-Small Airport
Fernside Fields Airpark-Small Airport
Forest Field Aerodrome-Small Airport
Kings (Ladbrooks)-Small Airport
Mount Hutt Station Airstrip-Small Airport
Pudding Hill Aerodrome-Small Airport
Rangiora Airfield-Small Airport
Rangitata Island Airport-Small Airport
Springfield Airport-Small Airport
Taitapu Ag strip-Small Airport
West Melton Aerodrome-Small Airport
Worthy Lodge airstrip (Ladbrooks)-Small Airport

Post Offices in Darfield

2 post offices.

Post OfficeAddress
Glentunnel Library and Post Office
New Zealand Post

Churches & Religious Organizations in Darfield

5 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).

NameAddress
Darfield Baptist Church
MountainView Community Church / Darfield Life Church
St Joseph's Catholic Church
St Thomas Catholic Church (former)
Trinity Church

Explore Near Darfield

UFO Sightings
1
Reported UFO sightings from the National UFO Reporting Center database
View all →
Waterfalls
1
Natural waterfalls documented by USGS and OpenStreetMap contributors
View all →

Quick Facts

Timezone
Pacific/Auckland

🇳🇿 About New Zealand

Capital Wellington
Population 4,885,500
Area 268,680 km²
GDP (USD) $255,194,972,673
GDP per capita $49,076
HDI 0.939
Life expectancy 83.0 years
Internet users 96.2%
Urban population 83.9%
Currency NZD (Dollar)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Calling code +64
TLD .nz
Driving side left

Public Holidays in New Zealand

23 public holidays this year

Date Holiday Local Name
Jan 1 New Year's Day New Year's Day
Jan 2 Day after New Year's Day Day after New Year's Day
Jan 19 Wellington Anniversary Day Wellington Anniversary Day
Jan 26 Auckland Anniversary Day Auckland/Northland Anniversary Day
Feb 2 Nelson Anniversary Day Nelson Anniversary Day
Feb 6 Waitangi Day Waitangi Day
Mar 9 Taranaki Anniversary Day Taranaki Anniversary Day
Mar 23 Otago Anniversary Day Otago Anniversary Day
Apr 3 Good Friday Good Friday
Apr 6 Easter Monday Easter Monday
Apr 7 Southland Anniversary Day Southland Anniversary Day
Apr 27 Anzac Day Anzac Day
Jun 1 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Jul 10 Matariki Matariki
Sep 28 Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day Dominion Day
Oct 23 Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day
Oct 26 Labour Day Labour Day
Nov 2 Marlborough Anniversary Day Marlborough Anniversary Day
Nov 13 Canterbury Anniversary Day Canterbury (North & Central) Anniversary Day
Nov 30 Chatham Islands Anniversary Day Chatham Islands Anniversary Day
Nov 30 Westland Anniversary Day Westland Anniversary Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day Christmas Day
Dec 28 Boxing Day Boxing Day

Download Full City Report

Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Darfield.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Darfield

What is the population of Darfield?

Darfield has a population of 3,380 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 397 people per square mile, spread across 8.5 square miles. The median age of residents is 42.1 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years.

Is Darfield expensive to live in?

The median household income is $29,700, 60% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $218,400 (23% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $1,092 per month. The home price-to-income ratio is 7.4x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.

What is the weather like in Darfield?

Darfield has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winter temperatures average 62°F in January, while summers reach an average of 41°F in July. The area receives 275 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 33.8 inches.

How is the job market in Darfield?

The job market in Darfield is very strong, with unemployment at just 1.6% / well below the national rate of 3.6%. The average weekly wage is $571. There are 311 business establishments in the area.

How much does housing cost in Darfield?

The median home value in Darfield is $218,400. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,092. The homeownership rate is 83.5%.

Nearby Cities

Kirwee, E9 1,180 pop · 5.1 mi West Melton, E9 2,710 pop · 12.7 mi Oxford, E9 2,240 pop · 13.1 mi Burnham, E9 1,239 pop · 13.6 mi Rolleston, E9 33,200 pop · 15.0 mi West Eyreton, E9 1,620 pop · 16.2 mi Templeton, E9 1,840 pop · 18.1 mi Swannanoa, E9 1,050 pop · 18.9 mi Rakaia, E9 1,670 pop · 19.1 mi Yaldhurst, E9 2,250 pop · 20.2 mi Hei Hei, E9 3,471 pop · 20.5 mi Russley, E9 2,493 pop · 20.9 mi Prebbleton, E9 5,260 pop · 21.2 mi Hornby, E9 8,790 pop · 21.4 mi
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