Bardia
Almost nobody who lives in Bardia owned a home here a decade ago, because the suburb barely existed: the population grew 858.6% over 10 years and is classified as new development rather than gentrifying. The median age sits at 30, a full 10 years below the national figure, and 54.7% of residents were born overseas, 33.1 points above national. Household income reaches the 91.1st percentile while only 4.9% of homes are owned outright and 59.6% carry a mortgage, the signature of a young, high-earning, recently arrived population buying into a brand-new estate at a $990,000 median.
Population
5,747
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,417/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
Median House
$1.1M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
The $990,000 median house price rose 6.5% in a single year, from $950,000 in 2024 to $1,011,500 in 2025, and the stock is unusually family-oriented. Separate houses make up 83.1% of dwellings against just 2.0% apartments, and a remarkable 73.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom dwellings at 20.9%. That points to buyers purchasing large new-build family houses rather than starter units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household income sits in the 91.1st percentile nationally. Only 4.9% own outright while 59.6% hold a mortgage, confirming this is a market of recent first and second home buyers, not established debt-free owners.
For Buyers
The $990,000 median house price rose 6.5% in a single year, from $950,000 in 2024 to $1,011,500 in 2025, and the stock is unusually family-oriented. Separate houses make up 83.1% of dwellings against just 2.0% apartments, and a remarkable 73.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom dwellings at 20.9%. That points to buyers purchasing large new-build family houses rather than starter units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household income sits in the 91.1st percentile nationally. Only 4.9% own outright while 59.6% hold a mortgage, confirming this is a market of recent first and second home buyers, not established debt-free owners.
For Investors
Renters make up 35.5% of households and weekly rent averages $550, against a $990,000 median that implies a gross yield near 2.9%, modest but stronger than premium inner-Sydney suburbs. The 5.2% vacancy rate leaves a workable tenant pool without signalling oversupply. Demand fundamentals are exceptional: internal migration adds a net 1,099 residents a year and overseas migration another 184, driving 5.97% annual population growth, far above a typical established suburb. Rent rose 129.2% over the measured period, the strongest single signal for landlords. Development is active at 46 applications in 12 months, mostly new dwelling houses and pools, so supply keeps pace with arrivals. The investment case rests on rental demand and population inflow rather than yield alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
340
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bardia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bardia Public School
K-6 · 953 students
Demographics
Bardia skews young and globally sourced. The median age of 30 runs 10 years below national, and 54.7% of residents were born overseas, 33.1 points above the national share. University qualifications reach 57.2%, which is 27.1 points above national, unusually high for an outer-Sydney estate and consistent with skilled-migrant arrivals. Ancestry leads with Indian (694) and Chinese (548) ahead of English (502), and the top non-English languages are Nepali (361), Bengali (178) and Mandarin (130). By religion, Hinduism (1,390) and Islam (1,051) trail only Christianity (1,766), a faith mix you rarely see outside major migrant gateways. Average household size is 3.5, a full person above national, reflecting the family households of couples with children, which number 3,587 against just 586 childless couples.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.1%
Houses
15.0%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by mortgage holders: 59.6% carry a mortgage, 35.5% rent and only 4.9% own outright, the inverse of an established suburb where debt-free owners dominate. That pattern is the direct result of a population that arrived during the estate's build-out rather than inheriting older stock. The dwelling mix is 83.1% separate houses and only 2.0% apartments, with semi-detached at 15.0%, and 73.1% of homes carry four or more bedrooms versus 20.9% with three. The median rose from $950,000 in 2024 to $1,011,500 in 2025, a 6.5% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 22.8% both sit below the 30% stress line, because household income in the 91.1st percentile absorbs the cost of large new houses.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $550.
$675
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $730 · units $525
HH Size
3.5
Personal Income / wk
$990
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
11.2%
Couples, no children
5,253
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in Healthcare, which leads at 25.2% (489 workers), well above its national weight, followed by Professional/Tech at 10.0% (193), Retail at 7.8% (152), Finance at 7.5% (146) and Education at 6.6% (128). By occupation, Professionals dominate at 730, ahead of Clerical/Admin (336) and Managers (301), aligning with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is 5.7% with a 69.7% full-time rate and 60.4% participation. The strongest SEIFA reading is decile 10 on IER for economic resources, above the IRSD decile of 8, because high mortgage-holder incomes lift household resources even though the suburb is too new to have accumulated outright-owned wealth. Real incomes grew 105.3% over the decade, tracking the rapid build-out.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
11,787
Unemployed
272
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.7%
Part-time
24.6%
Participation
60.4%
Employed
2,251
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.2%
Postgraduate
18.9%
Born Overseas
54.7%
Dwellings
1,605
Transport to Work
Bardia is car-dependent, as new outer-Sydney estates tend to be: 80.7% drive to work, only 11.3% use public transport and 1.1% walk or cycle, below the active-transport share of denser inner suburbs. The suburb earns decile 9 on IRSAD and decile 8 on IRSD, both well above the median, indicating low relative disadvantage, and only 2.8% of residents (151 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 30. Volunteering runs at 8.3%, lower than older communities, which fits a transient population with a 42.3% turnover rate and many recent arrivals.
Drive
80.7%
Public Transport
11.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+5.97%/yr
(+1,276 people/yr)
High GrowthFew suburbs in Australia grow like Bardia: the population rose 858.6% over 10 years and continues at 5.97% annually, adding about 1,276 people a year, which classifies it as high-growth new development rather than a stabilising established area. The driver is overwhelmingly internal migration at a net 1,099 a year, with overseas migration contributing another 184. Medium forecasts push the wider catchment from 21,168 in 2026 toward 27,551 by 2031. The trajectory reads as rejuvenating, with the young-age share up 13.5 points and the senior share down 5.4 points over the decade. Affordability improved from 61.5% in 2011 to 55.8% in 2021 even as rent climbed 129.2%, because incomes rose faster than housing costs in this newly settled market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+184
Net Internal / yr
+1,099
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bardia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bardia a good suburb to live in?
Bardia scores decile 9 on IRSAD and decile 8 on IRSD, both above the median, with household income in the 91.1st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Bardia?
The median house price is $990,000, up 6.5% from $950,000 in 2024 to $1,011,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, which is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Bardia?
The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 57.2%, which is 27.1 points above the national figure.
Is Bardia safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bardia in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the median, and only 2.8% of its residents, about 151 people, need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Bardia good for property investment?
Rent of $550 a week against a $990,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.9%, with a 5.2% vacancy rate. Net internal migration of 1,099 a year and 5.97% annual population growth support strong tenant demand, and rent rose 129.2% over the period, so returns rest on rental demand more than yield.
How is Bardia's population changing?
Bardia grew 858.6% over 10 years and continues at 5.97% annually, adding roughly 1,276 people a year, classified as high-growth new development. The main driver is internal migration at a net 1,099 a year, and the young-age share rose 13.5 points over the decade while the senior share fell 5.4 points.
What languages are spoken in Bardia?
About 54.7% of residents were born overseas, 33.1 points above the national figure. The most common non-English languages are Nepali (361 speakers), Bengali (178), Mandarin (130), Arabic (113) and Urdu (105), reflecting a strong South Asian and East Asian migrant presence.
How much development is happening in Bardia?
There were 46 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, high for a 2.11 km2 suburb. Most are new dwelling houses and swimming pools, consistent with an estate still building out at 5.97% annual population growth rather than redeveloping older stock.
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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