NSW 2015 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Alexandria

With 171 development applications in 12 months, Alexandria has the heaviest development pipeline in this batch, reflecting its ongoing transformation from industrial precinct to residential-commercial hybrid. Household income at the 94th percentile ($2,654/week) and university qualifications at 65.4% (35.3 points above national) place it among Sydney's most affluent and credentialed inner suburbs. The median climbed 10.0% from $1,080,000 in 2024 to $1,188,000 in 2025 (PSI-derived). Apartments comprise 65.5% of dwellings and 52.8% rent, yet the 78.8% full-time employment rate and 3.5% unemployment signal an economically robust workforce.

Alexandria urban fabric map

Population

9,649

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,654/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

182

Median House

$1.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

3.54 km²· 2,728 people/km²· Family income $3,600/wk

Apartments at 65.5% and semi-detached at 29.2% dominate, with detached houses at just 4.8%. Two-bedrooms at 42.6% are the most common type, with studio/one-bedrooms at 30.7% and three-bedrooms at 20.0%. The $1,150,000 median (PSI-derived, 2024-2025) rose 10.0% from $1,080,000 to $1,188,000. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,751 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, well below stress levels at these income levels. Only 12.6% own outright and 34.6% carry mortgages, with 52.8% renting. Walking/cycling at 23.7% and public transport at 16.3% reduce car dependency, with only 56.1% driving.

For Buyers

Apartments at 65.5% and semi-detached at 29.2% dominate, with detached houses at just 4.8%. Two-bedrooms at 42.6% are the most common type, with studio/one-bedrooms at 30.7% and three-bedrooms at 20.0%. The $1,150,000 median (PSI-derived, 2024-2025) rose 10.0% from $1,080,000 to $1,188,000. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,751 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, well below stress levels at these income levels. Only 12.6% own outright and 34.6% carry mortgages, with 52.8% renting. Walking/cycling at 23.7% and public transport at 16.3% reduce car dependency, with only 56.1% driving.

For Investors

The 52.8% renter share provides a strong tenant pool above the national average. Median weekly rent of $560 against a $1,150,000 median produces gross yield around 2.5%, typical for inner Sydney. The 10.3% vacancy rate is high, likely reflecting new apartment completions outpacing absorption. Capital growth of 10.0% over the latest year partially compensates. With 171 DAs in 12 months, the pipeline is extremely active, adding significant future supply. Net overseas migration of 422 per year drives demand, offset by internal outflow of 108. Population turnover at 45.3% means nearly half the residents change every five years.

Development Activity

Total DAs

989

Last 12 Months

182

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+3.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
223
Commercial / Industrial
42
Change of Use
33
Demolition
20
Signage / Advertising
15
Subdivision
8
Hospitality / Food Premises
6
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
3

Schools in Alexandria iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Alexandria Park Community School

ICSEA 1052 Combined Government

K-12 · 1313 students

Central Sydney Intensive English High School

ICSEA 1037 Secondary Government

7-11 · 142 students

Demographics

University qualifications at 65.4% are 35.3 points above national, consistent with IEO decile 10. English ancestry leads at 3,049, with Chinese (978), Irish (1,313) and Scottish (958) following, reflecting a mixed Anglo-Celtic and Asian profile. The 37.1% born overseas sits 15.5 points above the national average. Mandarin (130), Cantonese (77) and Portuguese (50) lead non-English languages. The median age of 34 runs 6 years below national. Average household size of 2.0 is well below the national 2.5, and couples without children at 49.7% nearly match the family share. The male share of 52.1% is above the baseline.

Age Distribution

0-14
11.1%
15-24
7.8%
25-44
54.4%
45-64
20.5%
65+
6.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
30.7%
2 bed
42.6%
3 bed
20.0%
4+ bed
6.7%

Dwelling Structure

4.8%

Houses

29.2%

Townhouse

65.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 12.6% Mortgage 34.6% Rent 52.8%

Only 12.6% own outright and 34.6% hold mortgages, with renters at 52.8% dominating tenure. The median rose from $1,080,000 in 2024 to $1,188,000 in 2025, a 10.0% increase. Apartments at 65.5% and semi-detached at 29.2% define the built form. Studio/one-bedrooms (30.7%) and two-bedrooms (42.6%) make up 73.3% of all dwellings, meaning larger family stock is scarce. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% is comfortable at 94th-percentile incomes. Affordability improved over the decade from 41.9% to 35.4%, driven by strong income growth outpacing housing costs.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,751

Rent / wk

$560

HH Size

2.0

Personal Income / wk

$1,629

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

10.3%

Unoccupied

518

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
130
Canton
77
Portuguese
50
French
46
Italian
42
Russian
28

Ancestry

English
3,049
Other
1,742
Irish
1,313
Chinese
978
Scottish
958
Ancestry NS
547

Household Composition

49.7%

Couples, no children

6,121

Total families

Economy & Employment

Professional/Tech leads at 20.9% (1,165 workers), followed by Finance at 11.5% (640), Healthcare at 10.8% (601) and Education at 9.1% (510). Public Admin at 7.9% rounds out the top five. Professionals (2,945) and Managers (1,454) dominate the occupation base, consistent with a knowledge-economy hub. The 78.8% full-time rate and 75.2% participation rate are both well above national averages. Unemployment at 3.5% is low. The IER decile 4, despite very high incomes, reflects SEIFA's penalisation of renter-heavy, small-dwelling suburbs where aggregate household wealth metrics are depressed.

Unemployment

3.0%

Labour Force

15,467

Unemployed

459

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
10
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
4
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

78.8%

Part-time

17.7%

Participation

75.2%

Employed

6,233

Occupations

Professionals 2,945
Managers 1,454
Clerical/Admin 724
Sales 407
Community/Personal 391
Labourers 164
Machinery/Drivers 109

Top Industries

Professional/Tech 20.9%
Finance 11.5%
Healthcare 10.8%
Education 9.1%
Public Admin 7.9%

University

65.4%

Postgraduate

20.1%

Born Overseas

37.1%

Dwellings

4,487

Transport to Work

Walking/cycling at 23.7% and public transport at 16.3% produce a low car-dependency profile (56.1% drive), well above the national pedestrian benchmark. Two schools serve the suburb: Alexandria Park Community School (ICSEA 1,052, 1,313 students, Government, Combined) and Central Sydney Intensive English High School (ICSEA 1,037, 142 students, Government). Both sit above the national benchmark. IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10 confirm top-tier advantage. The 1.8% needing-assistance rate is very low.

Drive

56.1%

Public Transport

16.3%

Walk / Cycle

23.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.2%/yr

(+473 people/yr)

Established

Population growth averages 2.2% per year (473 persons), well above the national average, with 37.6% growth over the decade. Overseas migration of 422 per year is the primary driver, with internal migration at negative 108. The medium forecast projects 24,441 by 2031, up from 22,077 in 2026. Gentrification is active (score 40): population grew 45% since 2011, growth is accelerating from 16% to 25%, and real income grew 14.8%. The industrial-to-residential conversion is the underlying mechanism, unlike gentrification of established residential areas.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+422

Net Internal / yr

-108

40

Gentrification Signal

Active

Population +45% since 2011, Net internal outflow -108/yr, Strong overseas inflow +422/yr, Accelerating: 16% → 25%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Alexandria compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 5%
Household Income
Top 6%
Rent Level
Top 3%
Apartments
Top 4%
Renters
Top 8%
Uni Educated
Top 2%
Public Transport
Top 5%
Born Overseas
Top 8%
Density
Top 4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alexandria a good suburb to live in?

Alexandria suits professionals who value walkability (23.7% walk/cycle) and inner-city access with lower car dependency (56.1% drive). IRSAD decile 10 and 65.4% university qualifications (35.3 points above national) signal top-tier conditions. The apartment-dominated market (65.5%) means limited space, with average household size at 2.0. The 10.3% vacancy rate benefits renters.

What is the median house price in Alexandria?

The median is $1,150,000 (PSI-derived, apartment-dominated), rising 10.0% from $1,080,000 in 2024 to $1,188,000 in 2025. Weekly rent is $560 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,751. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% is comfortable at 94th-percentile household incomes ($2,654/week).

What schools are in Alexandria?

Alexandria has 2 schools. Alexandria Park Community School (ICSEA 1,052, 1,313 students, Government, Combined K-12) is the main school, sitting 52 points above the national benchmark. Central Sydney Intensive English High School (ICSEA 1,037, 142 students) serves English language learners and sits 37 points above baseline.

Is Alexandria safe?

Crime data is not available for Alexandria in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 10 indicates the lowest possible disadvantage. The 3.5% unemployment rate and 1.8% needing-assistance rate are both well below national averages. IRSAD decile 10 confirms strong socio-economic conditions across all measures.

Is Alexandria good for property investment?

The 52.8% renter share provides a strong tenant pool. Gross yield is roughly 2.5% ($560/week on $1,150,000). Capital growth of 10.0% in one year is solid. The critical concern is the 10.3% vacancy rate and 171 DAs in 12 months, the heaviest pipeline in this batch, which may add supply pressure. Population growth of 2.2% per year and overseas migration of 422 annually support demand.

How is Alexandria's population changing?

Growth is strong at 2.2% per year (473 people), with population up 37.6% over the decade. Overseas migration of 422 per year is the primary driver, offset by internal outflow of 108. The medium forecast projects 24,441 by 2031. Gentrification is active (score 40), driven by industrial-to-residential conversion rather than displacement of existing residents.

What development is happening in Alexandria?

Alexandria logged 171 development applications in the past 12 months, the highest in this batch. Applications span office alterations, commercial signage, residential modifications and shed conversions. The volume reflects the suburb's ongoing transition from industrial to mixed-use, with population growing 37.6% over the decade.

How to read these comparisons

Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.

Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.

Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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