Annandale
Walking and cycling account for 18.2% of commutes in Annandale, one of the highest active-transport shares in the dataset, yet the suburb is 47.2% semi-detached dwellings, a housing type rarely dominant at this density (6,354/km2). The $1,950,000 median dropped 3.7% from $1,975,000 to $1,902,500 between 2024 and 2025, bucking Sydney's broader market. University qualifications at 64.0% run 33.9 points above national, making it one of the most educated postcodes in Australia (IEO decile 10). The 10.8% vacancy rate is high, contrasting with the premium price tag and suggesting a structural imbalance in the rental segment.
Population
9,487
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,683/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
161
Median House
$1.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,950,000 median buys into a stock that is 47.2% semi-detached (terrace houses), 28.8% apartments and 22.8% detached houses. Studio and one-bedroom dwellings at 19.1% are the largest single category alongside three-bedrooms at 33.2%, creating a bimodal market. Mortgage-to-income at 29.8% sits right at the stress boundary, the highest in this batch, reflecting the premium price against upper-middle incomes. Only 26.2% own outright and 31.3% carry mortgages. The 3.7% price decline over the latest year is notable for an inner-Sydney suburb and may represent a buying opportunity, or a sign of vacancy-driven softening.
For Buyers
The $1,950,000 median buys into a stock that is 47.2% semi-detached (terrace houses), 28.8% apartments and 22.8% detached houses. Studio and one-bedroom dwellings at 19.1% are the largest single category alongside three-bedrooms at 33.2%, creating a bimodal market. Mortgage-to-income at 29.8% sits right at the stress boundary, the highest in this batch, reflecting the premium price against upper-middle incomes. Only 26.2% own outright and 31.3% carry mortgages. The 3.7% price decline over the latest year is notable for an inner-Sydney suburb and may represent a buying opportunity, or a sign of vacancy-driven softening.
For Investors
Renters at 42.5% form the largest tenure group, providing a deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $570 against a $1,950,000 median gives a gross yield of approximately 1.5%, very low by national standards. The 10.8% vacancy rate is a major concern, the highest in this batch, suggesting structural oversupply particularly in the studio/one-bedroom segment (19.1% of stock). With 161 DAs in 12 months, the development pipeline is active. Net overseas migration at 168 per year provides demand, but internal outflow of 105 partially offsets this. Capital growth potential rests on the suburb's IEO decile 10 credential and inner-city scarcity premium.
Development Activity
Total DAs
793
Last 12 Months
161
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Annandale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Brendan's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 155 students
Annandale North Public School
K-6 · 359 students
Annandale Public School
P-6 · 363 students
Demographics
English (3,372), Irish (1,415) and Scottish (1,140) ancestry dominate, with Italian (567) fourth. The 27.3% overseas-born share is 5.7 points above national, modest by Sydney standards. University qualifications at 64.0% are 33.9 points above national, among the highest nationally. Professionals (2,416) and Managers (1,139) together dominate occupations. The median age of 38 is 2 years below national, and couples without children (30.5%) slightly outnumber the national norm, consistent with a professional DINK profile. Average household size of 2.3 is below the national 2.5. The 29.9% turnover rate is high, reflecting the rental-heavy population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
22.8%
Houses
47.2%
Townhouse
28.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Semi-detached dwellings at 47.2% define the streetscape, followed by apartments at 28.8% and detached houses at 22.8%. The tenure split is 26.2% outright, 31.3% mortgage and 42.5% renting, making renters the largest group. Studio/one-bedroom at 19.1% and two-bedroom at 32.4% together form over half the stock, reflecting the compact inner-city character. The median dropped 3.7% from $1,975,000 to $1,902,500. Price recovery from the 4.1% COVID dip is complete, with the current population now above the pre-pandemic peak. The 10.8% vacancy rate is the highest in this batch, an anomaly for a suburb of this calibre.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$570
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,442
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
458
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
6,648
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech leads at 18.4% (819 workers), followed by Healthcare at 15.6%, Education at 11.9%, Finance at 9.4% and Public Admin at 6.1%. These top 5 sectors are all knowledge-economy, consistent with the IEO decile 10 reading. Professionals (2,416) are the dominant occupation by a wide margin, nearly double the Managers count (1,139). Full-time employment at 71.0% is high, and participation at 64.8% is above the national average. Unemployment at 4.1% is moderate. The IER decile 7 is lower than the IEO decile 10, indicating that educational capital exceeds the area's economic resource concentration.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
6,572
Unemployed
270
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.0%
Part-time
24.9%
Participation
64.8%
Employed
4,950
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.0%
Postgraduate
21.3%
Born Overseas
27.3%
Dwellings
3,794
Transport to Work
Walking/cycling at 18.2% is among the highest in this dataset, with car driving at 67.3% and public transport at 8.9%. The suburb hosts 3 primary schools, all with ICSEA well above 1,000: St Brendan's Catholic (1,166, 155 students), Annandale North Public (1,148, 359 students) and Annandale Public (1,145, 363 students). This school cluster is among the strongest in the dataset. The IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10 confirm top-level socio-economic advantage. Rent-to-income at 21.2% is moderate, though vacancy at 10.8% suggests supply surplus.
Drive
67.3%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
18.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.47%/yr
(+47 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.47% per year (47 persons), modest for an inner-city suburb. The 4.1% COVID dip has fully recovered, with the current population above the pre-pandemic peak of 9,925. The 10-year change of 9.2% is below the national average. Net overseas migration at 168 per year is partially offset by 105 internal departures. The senior share expanded 4.4 points and the working-age share contracted 5.0 points, the largest working-age decline in this batch. Gentrification score is 10 (not gentrifying), as the suburb is already in its post-gentrification phase. Projections show modest growth to 10,269 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+168
Net Internal / yr
-105
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -105/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Annandale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annandale a good suburb to live in?
Annandale suits inner-city professionals who value walkability (18.2% walk/cycle) and terrace-house character. IRSAD decile 10 and 64.0% university qualifications signal top-tier advantage. Three primary schools all exceed ICSEA 1,140. The $1,950,000 entry price and 29.8% mortgage-to-income ratio near stress levels are the main barriers.
What is the median house price in Annandale?
The median is $1,950,000 (PSI-derived), dropping 3.7% from $1,975,000 in 2024 to $1,902,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments are $3,467 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, at the stress boundary. Weekly rent is $570.
What schools are in Annandale?
Annandale has 3 primary schools, all with ICSEA scores above 1,140: St Brendan's Catholic (1,166, 155 students), Annandale North Public (1,148, 359 students) and Annandale Public (1,145, 363 students). All rank in the top tier nationally, well above the 1,000 benchmark.
Is Annandale safe?
Crime data is not available for Annandale. The IRSD decile 10 places it among the least disadvantaged suburbs in Australia. The 4.1% unemployment rate is moderate, and the 64.0% university qualification rate is among the highest nationally. The suburb fully recovered from its 4.1% COVID population dip.
Is Annandale good for property investment?
The 42.5% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, but the gross yield of approximately 1.5% ($570/week on $1,950,000) is very low. The 10.8% vacancy rate is the highest in this batch and a material concern. The 3.7% price decline over the latest year adds uncertainty. Inner-city scarcity value and IEO decile 10 are the bull case.
How is Annandale's population changing?
Growth is modest at 0.47% per year (47 people). The 4.1% COVID dip fully recovered, with population now above the pre-pandemic peak of 9,925. The 10-year change of 9.2% is below national averages. The working-age share contracted 5.0 points, the largest decline in this batch.
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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