Barrack Heights
A compact Illawarra suburb, Barrack Heights has 6,003 residents across 2.42 square kilometres, producing a density of 2,484.7 people per square kilometre. The notable feature is its housing structure: 36.8% of homes are owned outright, 33.5% are rented and 88.5% are separate houses. At 41, the median age is 1 year above the national figure, while household income sits at the 34.1 percentile. Compared with nearby Warilla, Barrack Heights reads as a quieter detached-home setting, because family housing and established ownership shape local demand. Its 17.5% work-from-home share adds flexibility, although 74.7% drive to work.
Population
6,003
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,340/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Buyers are mainly choosing conventional family stock: 60.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms, 27.0% have 4 or more, and 88.5% are separate houses. The main trade-off is financing pressure. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,863, while mortgage costs equal 32.1% of household income, higher than the 28.4% rent-to-income measure. Only 1.8% of homes have 0 or 1 bedroom, so compact housing is less common than in apartment-led locations. Compared with higher-density markets, Barrack Heights suits households wanting land and room, but buyers should stress-test rates, insurance and repairs because debt servicing is already the sharper affordability constraint. The 36.8% outright ownership share also indicates a substantial established-owner base.
For Buyers
Buyers are mainly choosing conventional family stock: 60.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms, 27.0% have 4 or more, and 88.5% are separate houses. The main trade-off is financing pressure. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,863, while mortgage costs equal 32.1% of household income, higher than the 28.4% rent-to-income measure. Only 1.8% of homes have 0 or 1 bedroom, so compact housing is less common than in apartment-led locations. Compared with higher-density markets, Barrack Heights suits households wanting land and room, but buyers should stress-test rates, insurance and repairs because debt servicing is already the sharper affordability constraint. The 36.8% outright ownership share also indicates a substantial established-owner base.
For Investors
Rental demand has a sizeable base: 33.5% of households rent, weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 5.0%. That vacancy level is higher than in a very tight rental market, so investors should allow for leasing variability rather than assume continuous rent growth. Development activity is material, with 36 applications in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy that could gradually add competing stock. Compared with a suburb with lower rental participation, Barrack Heights provides a broader tenant base, but the 36.8% outright ownership and 28.8% mortgage shares show that owner-occupiers remain important. Returns will depend on purchase price, maintenance and tenant appeal because rent alone does not determine investment performance.
Development Activity
Total DAs
219
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Barrack Heights
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Barrack Heights has a median age of 41 and an average household size of 2.5 people, matching the national comparison. Just 20.5% of residents were born overseas, 1.1 percentage points below the national figure, while university attainment is 15.4%, or 14.7 percentage points below national. English ancestry is reported by 2,291 people, followed by Scottish ancestry at 532, Irish at 451 and Macedonian at 295; Macedon is spoken by 115 residents. Christianity counts 3,208 people and no religion 2,229. Compared with nearby Warilla, Barrack Heights presents as more Anglo-leaning and residential in character, while 84.4% stayed at the same address and turnover was 15.6%, supporting continuity because households move less frequently.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
1.1%
Townhouse
10.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates: 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 10.5% apartments and 1.1% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern, with 60.0% three-bedroom and 27.0% four-plus-bedroom dwellings. Tenure is divided between 36.8% outright owners, 28.8% mortgagors and 33.5% renters, while vacancy is 5.0%. Compared with nearby Warilla's broader coastal setting, Barrack Heights is more oriented to established family homes. Weekly rent is $380 against household income of $1,340, while the monthly mortgage figure is $1,863. Mortgage costs reach 32.1% of income, higher than rent pressure at 28.4%, because debt servicing is the sharper affordability constraint.
Mortgage / mo
$1,863
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $700 · units $495
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$618
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
119
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.7%
Couples with children
36.6%
Couples, no children
26.2%
Single parent
1,739
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 23.0% with 349 workers, followed by Construction at 12.4% and 188 workers, Education at 11.3% and 171, Retail at 8.0% and 122, and Manufacturing at 7.6% and 115. Healthcare's share is higher than Construction's, making care services the clearest employment anchor, while Trades account for 452 workers and Community or Personal roles for 398, both above Professionals at 315. Labour-force participation is 52.4%, unemployment is 5.9% and full-time employment is 51.2%, so the area combines a sizeable non-participating population with a practical service and trades base. Household income of $1,340 weekly sits at the 34.1 percentile, below the median percentile, which may constrain discretionary spending even as health and education demand remains comparatively resilient.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
2,573
Unemployed
153
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.2%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
2,420
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
20.5%
Dwellings
2,274
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 74.7% drive to work, compared with just 0.9% using public transport and 2.0% walking or cycling. A further 17.5% work from home, which may soften commuting needs. Families have access to 2 named government schools across primary and secondary levels, Barrack Heights Public School and Warilla High School, but exact enrolment zones should be checked because school boundaries can differ from suburb lines. The median age is 41 and average household size is 2.5, supporting demand for practical 3-bedroom homes, which represent 60.0% of stock. For safety, check recent local incident information before deciding; compared with a transit-rich inner suburb, the low 0.9% public transport share means car access and nearby services matter more.
Drive
74.7%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
17.5%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Barrack Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barrack Heights a good suburb to live in?
Barrack Heights suits households seeking detached homes and a quieter, car-oriented routine. It has 6,003 residents, a median age of 41 and 88.5% separate houses, but compare commute, school zones and local services because 74.7% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Barrack Heights?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent local sales before making an offer. Barrack Heights has 88.5% separate houses and 60.0% three-bedroom homes, so compare like-for-like house sales rather than apartment benchmarks.
What schools are in Barrack Heights?
Barrack Heights Public School is the local government primary option, while Warilla High School provides government secondary access. That is 2 named schools across 2 stages; check the exact enrolment zone for any address because boundaries may differ from suburb limits.
Is Barrack Heights safe?
Safety should be assessed using recent NSW Police incident information and the exact streets being considered. Barrack Heights has 6,003 residents and a median age of 41, but those figures do not replace a current crime comparison with nearby suburbs.
Is Barrack Heights good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor who values established housing and a meaningful rental base, but returns need careful checking. The rental share is 33.5%, weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 5.0%; compare the purchase price, costs and likely yield with Warilla before committing.
How is Barrack Heights's population changing?
Barrack Heights appears to be changing gradually rather than through rapid turnover. The suburb has 6,003 residents, 84.4% stayed at the same address and turnover was 15.6%; 36 development applications in 12 months point to incremental infill. Compare new dwelling activity with school, traffic and service capacity.
What development is occurring in Barrack Heights?
Development activity is active but mostly incremental, with 36 applications over 12 months. Examples include a 1-dwelling house and a 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy, so buyers should compare proposed changes with parking, privacy and streetscape impacts before purchasing.
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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