Barrack Heights
An $825,100 median house price sits alongside household income in just the 34.1st percentile nationally, and that gap defines the suburb. Mortgage repayments eat 32.1% of income, above the 30% stress threshold, because prices have climbed faster than local wages, rising 9.3% from $777,500 in 2024 to $850,000 in 2025. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 88.5% of dwellings, far above the apartment share of 10.5%, and three-bedroom homes make up 60.0%. The median age of 41 runs 1 year above the national figure, and only 15.4% hold a university qualification, 14.7 points below national, marking this as a working, owner-heavy coastal area near Shellharbour.
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
30
Median House
$825K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $825,100 median is attainable by Sydney standards, but affordability is tightening: prices rose 9.3% in a single year from $777,500 to $850,000, and monthly repayments of $1,863 now absorb 32.1% of household income, past the 30% stress line. Buyers get genuine houses rather than units, with 88.5% of dwellings detached and only 10.5% apartments, so the suburb suits families wanting space over density. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.0% and four-plus bedroom houses add 27.0%, leaving little small-format stock at 13.0% combined for studios, one and two-bedroom dwellings. With 37.1% of homes owned outright, more than the 29.1% under mortgage, much of the street is held by established residents, which keeps turnover low at 15.6% and listings scarce.
For Buyers
The $825,100 median is attainable by Sydney standards, but affordability is tightening: prices rose 9.3% in a single year from $777,500 to $850,000, and monthly repayments of $1,863 now absorb 32.1% of household income, past the 30% stress line. Buyers get genuine houses rather than units, with 88.5% of dwellings detached and only 10.5% apartments, so the suburb suits families wanting space over density. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.0% and four-plus bedroom houses add 27.0%, leaving little small-format stock at 13.0% combined for studios, one and two-bedroom dwellings. With 37.1% of homes owned outright, more than the 29.1% under mortgage, much of the street is held by established residents, which keeps turnover low at 15.6% and listings scarce.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.8% of households and weekly rent sits at $380, which against the $825,100 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, modest but stronger than premium Sydney markets. The vacancy rate of 5.0% is higher than a tight market would show, pointing to softer tenant demand and limited rent pressure. Rent already takes 28.4% of income, close to the stress threshold, so further rent rises face an affordability ceiling. Development is steady but small, with 29 applications lodged in 12 months, mostly demolitions, pool installs and dwelling alterations rather than new supply, so stock will not expand quickly. The investment case leans on the 9.3% annual capital growth recorded in 2025 more than yield, since incomes in the 34.1st percentile cap how far rents can climb.
Development Activity
Total DAs
203
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Barrack Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Warilla High School
7-12 · 1020 students
Barrack Heights Public School
K-6 · 192 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1 year above national, and the resident base is settled rather than transient, with 84.4% staying put year on year and turnover at only 15.6%. Overseas-born residents reach 20.5%, which is 1.1 points below national, so the suburb is less migrant-driven than most. Ancestry leans Anglo, led by English (2,291), Scottish (532) and Irish (451), with a notable Macedonian community (295) that shows in the top non-English language, Macedonian (115 speakers), ahead of Italian (30) and Serbian (25). University qualifications at 15.4% run 14.7 points below national, consistent with a workforce concentrated in hands-on roles. Couples with children (1,556) outnumber couples without (1,298 or 26.3%), and average household size is 2.5, level with national, reflecting a family-oriented profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
1.1%
Townhouse
10.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-dominated: 37.1% own outright and 29.1% carry a mortgage, so two thirds of homes are owner-occupied against 33.8% rented. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free housing rather than a churn of recent buyers. The stock is 88.5% detached houses with apartments at just 10.5% and semi-detached at 1.1%, a far more suburban mix than inner-city markets. Three-bedroom homes account for 60.0% and four-plus bedroom 27.0%, so the suburb is built for families. The median rose from $777,500 in 2024 to $850,000 in 2025, a 9.3% lift, while the current median reads $825,100. Mortgage-to-income at 32.1% sits above the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 28.4% is close behind, a sign that housing costs press hard against incomes in the 34.1st percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,863
Rent / wk
$380
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
26.3%
Couples, no children
4,939
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is concentrated in service and trade sectors rather than knowledge industries: Healthcare leads at 23.0% (349 workers), followed by Construction at 12.4% (188), Education at 11.3% (171), Retail at 8.0% and Manufacturing at 7.6%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (398) and Labourers (319) top the list, ahead of Professionals (315), which aligns with the university rate of 15.4% running 14.7 points below national. Unemployment is elevated at 6.8%, above the typical metropolitan range, and the full-time employment rate is 58.9%. Participation is low at 45.9% because 2,119 residents sit outside the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 41 and a sizeable retired or carer base. Personal income averages $618 a week, which keeps household income in the 34.1st percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
34.3%
Participation
45.9%
Employed
2,101
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
20.5%
Dwellings
2,274
Transport to Work
This is a car-dependent suburb: 90.6% of residents drive to work while only 1.1% use public transport and 2.4% walk or cycle, far below the national balance toward transit. No schools are recorded inside the 2.42 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Shellharbour suburbs, a practical trade-off for the low-density coastal setting at 2,485 residents per km2. The community skews older at a median age of 41, 1 year above national, and 9.2% of residents (525 people) need daily assistance, above what younger areas report. Volunteering runs at 8.2%, and with 84.4% of residents staying year on year, the area offers stability and space over walkability or services within its own bounds.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
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?
It suits families wanting space and ownership: 88.5% of dwellings are detached houses, 66.2% are owner-occupied and the median house price of $825,100 is attainable by Sydney standards. The trade-offs are car dependence, with 90.6% driving to work, and household income in the 34.1st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Barrack Heights?
The median house price is $825,100. Prices rose 9.3% over a year, from $777,500 in 2024 to $850,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,863, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.1%, above the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Barrack Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.42 km2 Barrack Heights boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Shellharbour suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 15.4%, which is 14.7 points below the national figure, reflecting a trade-focused workforce.
Is Barrack Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Barrack Heights in this dataset. As context, it is a stable, owner-heavy area where 84.4% of residents stay year on year and 66.2% of homes are owner-occupied, both patterns associated with low residential turnover.
Is Barrack Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $380 against the $825,100 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, stronger than premium Sydney markets. But the 5.0% vacancy rate signals softer demand and rent already takes 28.4% of income, so returns lean on the 9.3% annual capital growth recorded in 2025 rather than yield.
How is Barrack Heights's population changing?
The suburb is settled rather than fast-growing: 84.4% of residents stay year on year and turnover is just 15.6%. The median age of 41 sits 1 year above national, and with 9.2% of residents needing daily assistance, the profile skews toward an established, older base.
How much development is happening in Barrack Heights?
There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest for a 2.42 km2 suburb. Most are demolitions, pool installations and alterations to existing homes rather than new supply, consistent with a settled, detached-house area where 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses.
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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