Auburn
With 69.7% of residents born overseas, Auburn has a markedly international profile in a dense 8.56 sq km setting. Its population is 39,333 and density is 4,593 people per sq km, while the median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure. The suburb sits in the same western Sydney corridor as Granville and Lidcombe, but its apartment share of 47.4% and renter share of 51.6% make the housing pattern especially urban. Household size is 3.3, or 0.8 above the national comparison, supporting demand for both compact apartments and family-sized homes.
Population
39,333
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,533/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
209
For buyers, Auburn's housing mix makes product selection more important than a single suburb-wide price view. Apartments account for 47.4% of dwellings, separate houses 42.2% and semi-detached homes 10.1%; 39.8% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms and 33.5% have 3. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 30.1% of household income compared with rent-to-income of 26.7%. Compared with renting at $410 a week, ownership requires a larger upfront commitment, so buyers should test strata, maintenance and transport costs as well as deposit size.
For Buyers
For buyers, Auburn's housing mix makes product selection more important than a single suburb-wide price view. Apartments account for 47.4% of dwellings, separate houses 42.2% and semi-detached homes 10.1%; 39.8% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms and 33.5% have 3. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 30.1% of household income compared with rent-to-income of 26.7%. Compared with renting at $410 a week, ownership requires a larger upfront commitment, so buyers should test strata, maintenance and transport costs as well as deposit size.
For Investors
Auburn's renter base is a clear investment demand signal: 51.6% of households rent, versus 46.5% who own outright or with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $410 and vacancy is 9.5%, so income potential needs to be weighed against a relatively loose leasing market rather than assumed from renter numbers alone. Development activity is high at 207 applications in 12 months, which can expand amenity but also add competing stock, especially in an apartment-dominant suburb where 47.4% of dwellings are apartments. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, supporting tenant turnover and cultural-service demand, while the 27.6% turnover rate points to a mobile market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,146
Last 12 Months
209
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-0.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Auburn
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Auburn's median age is 31, 9 years below the national comparison, and 69.7% of residents were born overseas, 48.1 percentage points above the national figure. University attainment is 43.5%, or 13.4 points above national, although the suburb also includes large labourer and trades workforces of 2,371 and 1,669. Chinese, Lebanese and Indian ancestries count 8,574, 2,452 and 2,393 people. Mandarin, Nepali and Arabic are spoken by 3,219, 2,843 and 2,053 residents. Islam is the largest listed religion at 15,155, compared with 6,798 reporting no religion. Household size is 3.3, 0.8 above national, helping explain demand for family-oriented rentals.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.2%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
47.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartment living is slightly more common than separate-house living in Auburn: 47.4% versus 42.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 10.1%. Tenure is renter-led, with 51.6% renting compared with 46.5% owning outright or under mortgage. The largest bedroom groups are 2-bedroom homes at 39.8% and 3-bedroom homes at 33.5%, while 4-plus-bedroom dwellings account for 20.2%. Mortgage-to-income is 30.1%, higher than rent-to-income at 26.7%, and outright ownership is 22.4% compared with 24.1% mortgaged. This mix favours buyers who match dwelling type to budget, because apartment supply and a higher household size of 3.3 create different space requirements.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $410.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $650
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$580
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
1,152
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.1%
Couples with children
32.0%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
8,583
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Auburn's largest listed industry at 22.3% of jobs, followed by retail at 11.4%, hospitality 8.4%, professional and tech 7.5%, and transport 6.9%. Labourers are the largest occupation group at 2,371, ahead of professionals at 2,187 and community/personal workers at 1,890, showing a broader workforce than office work alone. Unemployment is 11.4%, participation 46.3%, and full-time employment 42.9%; part-time workers number 5,204 versus 5,707 full-time. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation rank in decile 4, while economic resources and relative disadvantage rank in deciles 1 and 1, and advantage/disadvantage in decile 2. These below-middle deciles help explain a household income at the 48.3 percentile.
Unemployment
11.4%
Labour Force
15,023
Unemployed
1,716
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
42.9%
Part-time
39.1%
Participation
46.3%
Employed
13,307
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.5%
Postgraduate
14.5%
Born Overseas
69.7%
Dwellings
10,944
Transport to Work
Daily life is supported by public transport use that is higher than walking and cycling: 19.8% commute by public transport, 47.2% drive, 4.5% walk or cycle, and 23.2% work from home. Four local government schools provide a practical mix of 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb edges. Density is 4,593 people per sq km across 8.56 sq km, so services and shops are close but streets can feel busy compared with lower-density areas. IRSAD is in decile 2 and IRSD in decile 1, below middle-decile conditions, pointing to uneven resources. Check current NSW Police records before purchasing or leasing, and compare lighting, parking and station routes at different times.
Drive
47.2%
Public Transport
19.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
23.2%
Population Forecast
+1.63%/yr
(+353 people/yr)
EstablishedAuburn is an established suburb with an annual growth trend of 1.63%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 25.0% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is labelled "Declining young" as the young share falls 4.3 percentage points and the senior share rises 1.4 points. Gentrification is at an Active stage, with a score of 45 and a broader shift score of 58. Rents have grown 20.0%, but affordability improved from 110.0 in 2011 to 78.8 in 2021, alongside real income growth of 36.1%. Compared with a static market, this points to continued change because migration and redevelopment are reshaping demand, even as the age profile matures.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+904
Net Internal / yr
-603
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal outflow -603/yr, Strong overseas inflow +904/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 20%, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Auburn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Auburn a good suburb to live in?
Auburn can suit residents who value density, transport access and cultural variety. The median age is 31, 51.6% rent, and 47.4% of dwellings are apartments. Larger households, averaging 3.3 people, should compare 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom options with nearby Granville and Lidcombe, because the housing mix changes by pocket.
What is the median house price in Auburn?
Use a current suburb sales report to identify Auburn's median house price, then separate it from apartment pricing. Auburn contains 42.2% separate houses but 47.4% apartments, so house and apartment medians can diverge. Monthly mortgage cost is $2,000, making dwelling type and strata costs important when comparing properties.
What schools are in Auburn?
Auburn has 4 listed government schools, comprising 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school, including a girls high school at secondary level. Check the exact address against enrolment zones, because the appropriate school can differ by catchment and year level. Confirm current intake rules before committing to a property.
Is Auburn safe?
Check the latest NSW Police records for the specific streets you are considering. Auburn's density is 4,593 people per sq km and 51.6% of households rent, so street activity and resident turnover can vary. Visit at different times and compare lighting, parking, building access and station routes before signing a lease or contract.
Is Auburn good for property investment?
Auburn may suit investors seeking a large renter pool and migration-led demand. Renting is 51.6%, weekly rent is $410 and overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but vacancy is 9.5% and 207 development applications in 12 months may increase competition. Compare net yield, strata, vacancy allowance and apartment supply before buying.
How is Auburn's population changing?
Auburn's population change across the wider area is 25.0% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 1.63% and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is labelled "Declining young": the young share fell 4.3 points while the senior share rose 1.4. Gentrification is Active at score 45, so growth is continuing while the age mix gradually changes.
What languages are spoken in Auburn?
Auburn is highly multilingual, with 69.7% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is spoken by 3,219 residents, Nepali by 2,843, Arabic by 2,053, Urdu by 1,607 and Cantonese by 1,165. Islam is the largest listed religion at 15,155 people, ahead of no religion at 6,798, so local services and retail benefit from cultural awareness.
What development is occurring in Auburn?
Development activity is substantial, with 207 applications over 12 months, including commercial, retail and co-living proposals. This can improve local services and housing choice, but it may also increase construction disruption and apartment competition. Because 47.4% of dwellings are already apartments and vacancy is 9.5%, investors should check pipeline, parking and strata exposure.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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