NSW 2574 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Bargo

A 22.8% work-from-home rate sits alongside 68.6% of workers driving a car, capturing Bargo's mix of home-based work and car-dependent commuting. The suburb has 4,516 residents across 49.09 square kilometres, with a low density of 92.0 people per square kilometre and 89.2% separate houses. Its median age of 41 is 1 year above the national figure, while university attainment at 16.3% is 13.8 percentage points below national. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, buyers should focus on whether Bargo's 89.2% separate-house share and larger low-density setting suit their plans. Household income is $1,736 a week, around the 60.9th percentile, but a 5.9 percentage-point rise in senior share signals an aging trajectory.

Bargo urban fabric map

Population

4,516

Median Age

41.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,736/wk

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

70

49.09 km²· 92 people/km²· Family income $2,032/wk

For households wanting land and space, Bargo's housing stock is strongly detached: 89.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with 53.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms and only 1.5% apartments. Ownership is split between 34.6% outright owners and 43.8% mortgage holders, while 17.3% rent. The reported monthly mortgage payment is $2,167, equal to 28.8% of household income and higher than the 23.6% rent-to-income figure. Buyers should budget for car ownership because 68.6% drive to work and public transport accounts for only 0.9%. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, inspect exact land size, commute and enrolment zone rather than assuming every detached property carries the same value.

For Buyers

For households wanting land and space, Bargo's housing stock is strongly detached: 89.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with 53.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms and only 1.5% apartments. Ownership is split between 34.6% outright owners and 43.8% mortgage holders, while 17.3% rent. The reported monthly mortgage payment is $2,167, equal to 28.8% of household income and higher than the 23.6% rent-to-income figure. Buyers should budget for car ownership because 68.6% drive to work and public transport accounts for only 0.9%. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, inspect exact land size, commute and enrolment zone rather than assuming every detached property carries the same value.

For Investors

Investor demand in Bargo is shaped by a small rental segment and moderate vacancy. Only 17.3% of occupied dwellings are rented, lower than the 43.8% mortgage-held share, while weekly rent is $410 and vacancy is 4.4%. That combination can support tenant competition in some pockets, but the low rental base means investors should test actual leasing depth rather than assume broad demand. Development activity is visible, with 67 applications in the past 12 months, including a dwelling demolition and replacement, a shed and a pool. The forecast trend is 0.78% annually with Balanced migration, so the case is more about steady holding and property selection than a high-growth thesis. Compare rents and vacancy with nearby Tahmoor before setting a purchase price.

Development Activity

Total DAs

352

Last 12 Months

70

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+40.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
29
Demolition
20
Swimming Pool / Spa
19
Renovation / Extension
12
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
9
New Dwelling
7
Change of Use
6
Subdivision
6

Schools in Bargo

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Bargo Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Demographics

Bargo has an older, more settled profile than Australia overall: median age is 41, 1 year above national, and 84.5% of residents stayed at the same address, leaving a turnover rate of 15.5%. University attainment is 16.3%, 13.8 percentage points below national, while overseas-born residents account for 12.1%, 9.5 points below national. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 1,831 people, followed by Irish at 447 and Scottish at 392. Italian and Arabic are the most listed non-English languages, with 20 and 12 speakers. Christianity counts 2,663 people versus 1,532 reporting no religion. Couples with children form 43.9% of families, higher than couples without children at 40.0%, helping explain demand for larger homes.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.2%
15-24
12.2%
25-44
22.1%
45-64
26.0%
65+
19.3%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.1%
2 bed
10.7%
3 bed
33.0%
4+ bed
53.1%

Dwelling Structure

89.2%

Houses

6.3%

Townhouse

1.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 34.6% Mortgage 43.8% Rent 17.3% Other 4.3%

Detached homes define Bargo's physical market: 89.2% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 6.3% semi-detached and 1.5% apartments. Larger floorplans are common, with 53.1% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms and 33.0% at 3 bedrooms, far above the 3.1% with 0 to 1 bedroom. Tenure is mixed but owner leaning: 34.6% are owned outright and 43.8% are mortgaged, versus 17.3% rented. Mortgage holders report $2,167 monthly payments, equal to 28.8% of household income and higher than the 23.6% rent-to-income share. Vacancy is 4.4%, so the rental slice is not large enough to treat every property as interchangeable. Compared with nearby Tahmoor, assess block size, dwelling condition and bedroom count carefully across Bargo's 49.09 square kilometre footprint.

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

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 $680

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$742

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

4.4%

Unoccupied

71

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

23.6%

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

28.8%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
20
Arabic
12

Ancestry

English
1,831
Irish
447
Scottish
392
Other
269
Italian
222
Ancestry NS
179

Household Composition

43.9%

Couples with children

40.0%

Couples, no children

15.6%

Single parent

1,264

Total families

Economy & Employment

Bargo's labour market combines trade and service work. Construction is the largest industry at 16.8% and 213 workers, followed by healthcare at 15.8% and 201, education at 11.3% and 143, manufacturing at 9.1% and 115, and public administration at 8.5% and 108. The occupational mix is led by trades at 383 people, then clerical and administration at 267, managers at 259, professionals at 256 and labourers at 243. Unemployment is 3.7% from a 59.7% participation rate, with 1,171 full-time and 665 part-time workers. Household income is $1,736 weekly, at the 60.9th percentile, higher than the midpoint. SEIFA results are uneven: IEO decile 2 contrasts with IER decile 8, while IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 5. This points to lower education and occupation outcomes alongside relatively stronger economic resources.

Unemployment

3.7%

Labour Force

2,152

Unemployed

79

Source: ABS Census 2021

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

Overall advantage
5
Disadvantage
5
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
2

Full-time

56.5%

Part-time

32.1%

Participation

59.7%

Employed

2,073

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Trades 383
Clerical/Admin 267
Managers 259
Professionals 256
Labourers 243
Machinery/Drivers 234
Community/Personal 202
Sales 174

Top Industries

Construction 16.8%
Healthcare 15.8%
Education 11.3%
Manufacturing 9.1%
Public Admin 8.5%

University

16.3%

Postgraduate

3.4%

Born Overseas

12.1%

Dwellings

1,554

Transport to Work

Everyday life in Bargo is easiest for households with a car. Car drivers account for 68.6% of commuting, compared with 0.9% using public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling; 22.8% work from home, which can reduce some trips but does not remove the need for regional access. Bargo has one local primary school, Bargo Public School, operated by the government sector, so families should check enrolment zones and secondary options against the exact address. The suburb covers 49.09 square kilometres at 92.0 people per square kilometre, giving it a lower-density setting than a built-up centre. Use current street-level police and crime information before deciding. SEIFA's IRSAD and IRSD decile 5 indicate middle positioning, while IEO decile 2 is lower than IER decile 8, an important socioeconomic contrast.

Drive

68.6%

Public Transport

0.9%

Walk / Cycle

2.2%

Work from Home

22.8%

Population Forecast

+0.78%/yr

(+49 people/yr)

Established

Bargo's established-area outlook is measured rather than explosive. The forecast trend is 0.78% annual growth, with Balanced migration as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 9.8% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share has risen 5.9 percentage points, young share has fallen 3.5 points and working share has declined 2.5 points. Housing pressure matters because rent growth of 45.6% is higher than real income growth of 11.0%, and affordability is labelled Worsening from 51.0% in 2011 to 54.4% in 2021. The shift-based gentrification score is 43, tagged Early signs, while the current gentrification score is 4, tagged Not gentrifying. These signals support gradual change driven by aging households, steady migration and rising costs rather than sudden transformation.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+14

Net Internal / yr

+28

4

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +13% since 2011

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

How Bargo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 12%
Household Income
Top 39%
Rent Level
Top 14%
Apartments
Top 18%
Renters
Top 44%
Uni Educated
Bottom 24%
Public Transport
Bottom 17%
Born Overseas
Bottom 40%
Density
Top 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bargo a good suburb to live in?

Bargo suits buyers who value detached homes and space, especially households comfortable with driving. The suburb has 89.2% separate houses, 53.1% with 4 or more bedrooms and 68.6% car commuters. Its median age of 41 is 1 year above national, so it feels more established and older than the national profile.

What is the median house price in Bargo?

A single current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from rent. Bargo's housing is 89.2% separate houses, and 53.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so block size, condition and land value can place homes above or below a simple suburb-wide midpoint. Weekly rent is $410.

What schools are in Bargo?

Bargo Public School is Bargo's local government primary school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and compare secondary options in the wider area, because 1 local primary campus does not cover every year level. The suburb has 4,516 residents and an average household size of 2.8.

Is Bargo safe?

Safety decisions should use current NSW Police and local street-level information rather than a broad suburb label. Bargo covers 49.09 square kilometres and has 4,516 residents, so conditions can vary between roads and housing pockets. Visit at different times, review recent incidents and check lighting, access and surrounding traffic before committing.

Is Bargo good for property investment?

Bargo can suit a long-term investor who is comfortable with a small rental base and moderate growth. Rents are $410 a week, vacancy is 4.4% and 17.3% of dwellings are rented, lower than the 43.8% mortgage-held share. Forecast growth is 0.78% annually with Balanced migration, so compare likely yield and demand with nearby Tahmoor before buying.

How is Bargo's population changing?

Bargo's population is changing gradually rather than rapidly. The wider-area forecast records 0.78% annual growth and 9.8% change over 10 years, with Balanced migration. The trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 5.9 percentage points, young share is down 3.5 points and the current gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with score 4.

What development is happening in Bargo?

Development activity includes 67 applications over the past 12 months. Recent examples include a dwelling demolition and replacement, a new shed structure and a swimming pool. The mix points to ongoing small-scale property change rather than a clearly identified large housing estate, so buyers should check approvals near any address.

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.

Explore Bargo on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in NSW