Barnsley
Virtually every dwelling in Barnsley is a separate house: 99.3% of the housing stock fits that description, one of the highest rates anywhere in NSW, and it shapes everything from the streetscape to the buyer profile. With a median age of 39 and household income at the 63.1st percentile nationally, this is solidly middle-ground territory, but not affluent. The SEIFA IEO score sits at decile 2, meaning education and occupation levels rank in the bottom fifth nationally, while the IER decile of 7 points to reasonable economic resources, likely through homeownership rather than wages. Population has grown 18.2% since 2011, adding residents at a steady clip.
Population
1,735
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,784/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$755K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $755,000, marginally below the $760,500 recorded in 2024 after a 1.1% dip to $752,500 in 2025. With 99.3% of stock being separate houses, buyers are essentially choosing between detached homes only, with very little apartment or semi-detached alternative. The 3-bedroom home is the dominant type at 56.3% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 32.8%, giving the suburb a family-size bias. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting most buyers here are not stretched. At 52.1%, mortgage holders outnumber outright owners (34.8%), consistent with an active purchase market rather than an established, debt-free base.
For Buyers
The median house price is $755,000, marginally below the $760,500 recorded in 2024 after a 1.1% dip to $752,500 in 2025. With 99.3% of stock being separate houses, buyers are essentially choosing between detached homes only, with very little apartment or semi-detached alternative. The 3-bedroom home is the dominant type at 56.3% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 32.8%, giving the suburb a family-size bias. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting most buyers here are not stretched. At 52.1%, mortgage holders outnumber outright owners (34.8%), consistent with an active purchase market rather than an established, debt-free base.
For Investors
Barnsley is not a strong rental market. Renters make up just 13.2% of households, well below the national average, and weekly rent of $360 against a $755,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%. The vacancy rate sits at 3.6%, above the 3.0% level typically considered balanced, suggesting modest oversupply in rental stock. Development activity is low at 11 applications over 12 months, mostly pools and minor alterations, so new supply is not a near-term threat. Rent has grown 39.3% over the decade, showing real price power over time. Annual population growth of 0.96% and net overseas migration of 13 per year provide gradual demand support, but the thin renter base limits yield-focused strategies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
87
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Barnsley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Barnsley Public School
K-6 · 276 students
Demographics
Barnsley leans strongly Anglo-Celtic: English ancestry is the most common at 811 residents, followed by Scottish (199) and Irish (165), and only 5.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 16.2 percentage points below the national figure. The median age of 39 sits 1 year below national, but the demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 7.9 points and the working-age share falling 2.9 points over the decade. University qualifications stand at 10.8%, which is 19.3 points below national, consistent with the IEO decile 2 score. Average household size of 2.7 is slightly above national, and couples with children (573 families) outnumber couples without children (371), pointing to a family-stage population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward ownership: 34.8% own outright, 52.1% hold a mortgage, and just 13.2% rent, a split far more ownership-heavy than the national mix. Almost all homes are separate houses (99.3%), with apartments at only 0.7%, so the housing market is structurally simple. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.3%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 32.8%, meaning larger family layouts are standard rather than exceptional. The median house price was $760,500 in 2024 and dipped 1.1% to $752,500 in 2025. Mortgage-to-income at 22.4% and rent-to-income at 20.2% both sit below stress thresholds, suggesting that housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes at the 63.1st household income percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$794
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
23
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.9%
Couples, no children
1,490
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant local industry at 19.3% of employed residents (106 workers), ahead of Construction at 13.7% (75) and Retail at 7.7% (42). Manufacturing and Education each account for around 7%. By occupation, Labourers (133) and Clerical/Admin (125) are the two largest groups, which explains the gap between the IER decile 7 (adequate economic resources) and the IEO decile 2 (low education and occupation ranking). The full-time employment rate is 66.2% and unemployment sits at 4.8%, slightly above the national average. Real income growth of 14.4% over the decade shows residents have not been standing still, but the industrial mix is weighted toward trades and care work rather than professional services.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
4,215
Unemployed
140
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
29.0%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
842
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.8%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
5.4%
Dwellings
615
Transport to Work
Car dependence here is near-total: 94.8% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average which includes far more public transport use, and only 0.5% use public transport. This makes proximity to major roads and access to Newcastle essential for daily life. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby centres. Crime data is not available for Barnsley. The IRSAD decile of 3 places the suburb in the lower advantage tier nationally, and the IEO decile of 2 reflects below-average education and occupation outcomes. On the positive side, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 22.4%, and the low renter share of 13.2% means most residents have a direct ownership stake in the neighbourhood.
Drive
94.8%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.96%/yr
(+73 people/yr)
EstablishedBarnsley has grown steadily, adding 18.2% more residents since 2011 and continuing at 0.96% annually, or about 73 persons per year. Medium forecasts put the broader SA2 population at roughly 7,943 by 2031, up from 7,583 in 2025. Migration is balanced: net overseas arrivals average 13 per year and internal migration adds a modest 4. Gentrification is at early signs (score 21), supported by the population growth signal of plus 19% since 2011 and accelerating higher-income household share. Affordability has held at around 50.4%, essentially stable since 2011, meaning price rises have tracked income growth without large real compression. The aging trajectory is the key structural shift, with the senior share gaining 7.9 points over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+13
Net Internal / yr
+4
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +19% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Barnsley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barnsley a good suburb to live in?
Barnsley suits families who want a detached house at a mid-range price, with 99.3% of dwellings being separate houses and a median house price of $755,000. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 22.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependence (94.8% drive to work) and an IEO decile of 2, indicating below-average education and occupation outcomes compared to national benchmarks.
What is the median house price in Barnsley?
The median house price is $755,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices were $760,500 in 2024 and dipped 1.1% to $752,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and weekly rent is $360, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 20.2% for tenants.
What schools are in Barnsley?
No schools are recorded inside the Barnsley boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, university qualifications stand at 10.8%, which is 19.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's trade and care-sector workforce profile.
Is Barnsley safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Barnsley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the IRSD decile of 5 places the suburb near the national median on relative disadvantage, suggesting neither elevated nor unusually low deprivation. The low renter share of 13.2% and high owner-occupier rate of 86.9% are typically associated with residential stability.
Is Barnsley good for property investment?
The yield case is modest. Weekly rent of $360 against a $755,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%, and the vacancy rate of 3.6% sits above the 3.0% balanced threshold. Rent has grown 39.3% over the decade, showing long-term price power. Annual population growth of 0.96% provides gradual demand, but the thin renter base of 13.2% limits pool depth for landlords.
How is Barnsley's population changing?
Population has grown 18.2% since 2011 and is currently expanding at 0.96% per year, adding around 73 residents annually. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching about 7,943 by 2031. The demographic shift is toward older age groups, with the senior share up 7.9 points over the decade, while the working-age share fell 2.9 points.
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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