Berkeley
SEIFA decile 1 across all four indices makes Berkeley one of the most disadvantaged suburbs in NSW, yet rent has grown 84.2% over the past decade, faster than suburbs in far wealthier brackets. This tension between low socio-economic status and strong rent growth defines the investment case. Labourers are the largest occupation group (434), ahead of professionals (389), which is the inverse of most metropolitan suburbs. Gentrification is scored at 64 (Active stage), but with only 0.22% annual population growth and net internal outflows of -120/year, the gentrification effect is being driven by rising costs pushing out existing residents rather than incoming wealth.
Population
7,798
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,217/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$790K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $790,000 (PSI-derived 2024-25) grew modestly from $785,000 to $795,000 between 2024 and 2025. The housing is overwhelmingly detached (88.8%) with 53.3% being 3-bedroom homes. Mortgage stress is a concern at 32.9% of income, above the 30% warning threshold, because household incomes sit in just the 26th percentile nationally. Illawarra Sports High School (ICSEA 937, 926 enrolled) anchors secondary education, but ICSEA scores across all 3 schools are below the national median of 1000, ranging from 868 to 937.
For Buyers
The median house price of $790,000 (PSI-derived 2024-25) grew modestly from $785,000 to $795,000 between 2024 and 2025. The housing is overwhelmingly detached (88.8%) with 53.3% being 3-bedroom homes. Mortgage stress is a concern at 32.9% of income, above the 30% warning threshold, because household incomes sit in just the 26th percentile nationally. Illawarra Sports High School (ICSEA 937, 926 enrolled) anchors secondary education, but ICSEA scores across all 3 schools are below the national median of 1000, ranging from 868 to 937.
For Investors
The 39.2% renting rate and 4.1% vacancy rate form a solid demand-supply balance. Weekly rent of $290 against a $790,000 median gives a modest 1.9% gross yield. However, rent growth of 84.2% over the decade is exceptional and the gentrification score of 64 (Active) suggests continued upward pressure on rents. The 55 development applications in 12 months, including dual occupancies, indicate new housing supply entering the market. Affordability worsened from 50.3% to 62.5% mortgage-to-income over the decade, meaning buyers are increasingly stretching to enter.
Development Activity
Total DAs
294
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Berkeley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Illawarra Sports High School
7-12 · 926 students
Berkeley Public School
K-6 · 259 students
Berkeley West Public School
K-6 · 157 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure. University attainment at 19.0% is 11.1 percentage points below the national average, and the occupation profile (labourers 434, community/personal 396, professionals 389) reflects a working-class economy. Macedonian ancestry (503) is notable, making up the 5th largest ancestry group, and Macedonian (170 speakers) is the most common non-English language. Only 22.9% of residents were born overseas, close to the national 21.6%. Population stability is high with 83.7% staying in the same address, above the national retention rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
8.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses dominate at 88.8%, with a small apartment segment (8.5%) and minimal semi-detached stock (2.7%). Three-bedroom homes are the majority at 53.3%. The price grew from $785,000 to $795,000 between 2024 and 2025, a 1.3% increase. Ownership is split between outright (32.6%), mortgaged (28.2%), and renting (39.2%). Mortgage stress at 32.9% exceeds the 30% threshold, placing Berkeley above the risk line for mortgage holders. The low income percentile (26th) combined with $790,000 prices creates a stretched affordability profile compared to suburbs at similar income levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$568
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
124
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.5%
Couples, no children
6,136
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 20.6% of employment, followed by construction (12.2%) and education (10.4%). Manufacturing at 8.3% is higher than the national average, reflecting the Illawarra industrial base. Labourers (434) outnumber professionals (389), and machinery/drivers (293) form the 5th largest group, indicating a blue-collar employment structure. Unemployment at 7.1% is above the national average. The participation rate of just 43.0% is notably low, meaning over half of adults are not in the labour force. SEIFA IRSAD decile 1 confirms Berkeley sits in the bottom 10% nationally for socio-economic advantage.
Unemployment
14.5%
Labour Force
6,330
Unemployed
920
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
43.0%
Employed
2,520
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
22.9%
Dwellings
2,875
Transport to Work
Three schools serve Berkeley: Illawarra Sports High School (Government, Secondary, ICSEA 937, 926 enrolled), Berkeley Public School (ICSEA 926, 259 enrolled), and Berkeley West Public School (ICSEA 868, 157 enrolled). All score below the national median of 1000. Public transport usage is minimal at 2.3%, with 89.6% driving. Need for assistance at 10.1% (740 people) is among the highest rates in the region. The low volunteering rate of 9.3% is consistent with the SEIFA decile 1 profile, where community participation tends to be lower than advantaged areas.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is minimal at 0.22% annually (32 people/year), well below the national average, projected to reach 14,513 by 2031 from 14,288 in 2025. The suburb grew only 10.7% over the past decade. Internal migration runs at -120/year (net outflow), while overseas migration adds +89/year. The population trajectory is classified as Stable, with age cohort shares barely shifting. Real income grew 20.4% over the decade, which is positive, but affordability still worsened from 50.3% to 62.5% because house prices outpaced income gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+89
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -120/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Berkeley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley a good suburb to live in?
Berkeley suits buyers seeking detached housing in the Illawarra region at $790,000. The 88.8% house stock and stable population (83.7% retention) provide a settled suburban environment. However, SEIFA decile 1, school ICSEA scores all below 1000 (range 868-937), and 7.1% unemployment are factors that prospective residents should weigh.
What is the median house price in Berkeley?
The PSI-derived median is $790,000 for 2024-2025, with the most recent annual data showing $795,000 in 2025, up 1.3% from $785,000 in 2024. Growth has been modest compared to Sydney metropolitan averages.
What schools are in Berkeley?
Berkeley has 3 government schools: Illawarra Sports High School (Secondary, ICSEA 937, 926 enrolled), Berkeley Public School (Primary, ICSEA 926, 259 enrolled), and Berkeley West Public School (Primary, ICSEA 868, 157 enrolled). All ICSEA scores fall below the national median of 1000.
Is Berkeley safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Berkeley in the current dataset. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 1, the lowest bracket nationally, statistically correlates with higher crime rates than average. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.1% also indicates socio-economic challenges.
Is Berkeley good for property investment?
Rent growth of 84.2% over the past decade is strong, and the 4.1% vacancy rate is healthy. Gross yield is modest at 1.9% ($290/week on $790,000). The 55 DAs in 12 months show active development. The gentrification score of 64 (Active) suggests ongoing demographic transition, but the net internal outflow of -120/year is a risk factor.
How is Berkeley's population changing?
Growth is near-flat at 0.22% annually (32 people/year), with population forecast to barely shift from 14,288 in 2025 to 14,513 by 2031. Domestic residents leave at -120/year while overseas arrivals add +89/year. The suburb grew only 10.7% over the entire past decade, well below state averages.
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.
Explore Berkeley on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map