NSW 2019 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Botany

At 4,036.3 residents per sq km, Botany has a much denser profile than a detached-house-led suburb, with apartments making up 50.5% of dwellings. Household income sits at the 89.7th percentile, while 34.0% of residents were born overseas, 12.4 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb is younger than Australia overall, with a median age of 36, or 4 years below national. For buyers comparing Botany with nearby Pagewood or Mascot, the apartment-led housing mix, strong incomes and inner-south setting are key distinctions. Its 12,960 residents and 2.6-person average household point to a compact, urban market rather than a low-density family-only area.

Botany urban fabric map

Population

12,960

Median Age

36.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,373/wk

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

109

3.21 km²· 4,036.3 people/km²· Family income $2,844/wk

Botany suits buyers who value an apartment-led market and access to smaller household formats. Apartments account for 50.5% of dwellings, compared with 27.8% separate houses and 20.9% semi-detached homes. The most common formats are 2-bedroom dwellings at 35.8% and 3-bedroom dwellings at 33.2%, both higher than the 4-plus-bedroom share of 16.2%. A typical mortgage commitment is $2,741 per month, while mortgage costs equal 26.7% of household income. Rent is $550 per week and rent costs equal 23.2% of income. Because 41.0% of households have a mortgage, buyers should test repayment capacity against dwelling size, strata costs and deposit requirements. Compared with detached-house searches, Botany provides more compact options but less 4-plus-bedroom stock.

For Buyers

Botany suits buyers who value an apartment-led market and access to smaller household formats. Apartments account for 50.5% of dwellings, compared with 27.8% separate houses and 20.9% semi-detached homes. The most common formats are 2-bedroom dwellings at 35.8% and 3-bedroom dwellings at 33.2%, both higher than the 4-plus-bedroom share of 16.2%. A typical mortgage commitment is $2,741 per month, while mortgage costs equal 26.7% of household income. Rent is $550 per week and rent costs equal 23.2% of income. Because 41.0% of households have a mortgage, buyers should test repayment capacity against dwelling size, strata costs and deposit requirements. Compared with detached-house searches, Botany provides more compact options but less 4-plus-bedroom stock.

For Investors

Botany has a substantial rental base, with 37.7% renting compared with 20.4% owning outright, while 41.0% are paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $550 and vacancy is 8.6%, so investors should price for tenant demand without assuming tight conditions. The 26.4% turnover rate and 73.6% of residents staying at the same address suggest both movement and retention, supporting a mix of renter and owner demand. Development activity is material at 107 applications in 12 months, including demolition, new structures, attached dwellings and subdivision in recent examples. That pipeline may add choice and competition for older stock. The forward trend is 2.16% annually, driven by overseas migration, giving Botany a stronger growth case than a purely static income strategy, but vacancy and new supply remain important checks.

Development Activity

Total DAs

562

Last 12 Months

109

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+41.6%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
90
Demolition
24
Commercial / Industrial
24
Change of Use
11
New Dwelling
11
Swimming Pool / Spa
10
Other
5
Signage / Advertising
4

Schools in Botany

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

John Brotchie Nursery School

Other School Government
School website

Banksmeadow Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Botany Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Pagewood Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Demographics

Botany's median age is 36, 4 years below the national figure, and 42.0% of residents have a university qualification, 11.9 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 34.0%, 12.4 points higher than the national share, helping explain the mix of English, Irish, Chinese and Scottish ancestries, recorded at 3,311, 1,646, 1,039 and 923 people. Mandarin is the most common language recorded at 168 speakers, followed by Greek at 125. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above national, while couples with children comprise 49.9% of families and couples without children 33.5%. Christianity is recorded for 7,185 residents and no religion for 3,866, a higher count than Judaism at 354. The profile combines established families with internationally connected households, rather than a single age or cultural pattern.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.1%
15-24
10.8%
25-44
33.4%
45-64
24.8%
65+
12.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
14.9%
2 bed
35.8%
3 bed
33.2%
4+ bed
16.2%

Dwelling Structure

27.8%

Houses

20.9%

Townhouse

50.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 20.4% Mortgage 41.0% Rent 37.7% Other 0.9%

The housing market is apartment-dominant: apartments represent 50.5% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 27.8% and semi-detached homes at 20.9%. Bedrooms cluster around 2-bedroom homes at 35.8% and 3-bedroom homes at 33.2%, while 4-plus-bedroom dwellings account for 16.2%. Tenure is split between mortgages at 41.0%, renting at 37.7% and outright ownership at 20.4%, indicating a mortgage-belt suburb with a meaningful renter cohort. This structure matters because a compact dwelling mix can widen entry choices but makes apartment quality, levies and resale competition important. Mortgage costs average $2,741 monthly and equal 26.7% of household income, compared with rent costs at 23.2%, so debt and rental affordability should be assessed separately. Botany's form is more compact than a traditional detached-house market, consistent with its density of 4,036.3 residents per sq km.

Mortgage / mo

$2,741

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $550.

$920

Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,150 · units $900

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$1,153

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

8.6%

Unoccupied

445

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

23.2%

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

26.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
168
Greek
125
Canton
78
Italian
64
Portuguese
64
Russian
59

Ancestry

English
3,311
Other
2,190
Irish
1,646
Chinese
1,039
Scottish
923
Ancestry NS
759

Household Composition

49.9%

Couples with children

33.5%

Couples, no children

14.8%

Single parent

3,531

Total families

Economy & Employment

Botany's employment base is led by Healthcare with 680 workers at 13.6%, Education with 586 at 11.7%, Professional/Tech with 548 at 11.0%, Construction with 534 at 10.7% and Public Admin with 445 at 8.9%. That mix is reinforced by 1,723 Professionals, 1,208 Managers and 1,079 Clerical/Admin workers, with Trades at 840. Labour-force participation is 68.9%, unemployment is 3.2% and full-time employment is 63.6%, supporting household income of $2,373 per week at the 89.7th percentile nationally. SEIFA places Botany in the 8th IEO decile, 7th IER, 8th IRSD and 9th IRSAD, all above the national middle. The high advantage scores alongside a sizeable construction and clerical base suggest a mixed economy: professional and public-facing work sits alongside trades and administration, rather than a single-industry suburb.

Unemployment

3.2%

Labour Force

7,221

Unemployed

232

Source: ABS Census 2021

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

Overall advantage
9
Disadvantage
8
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

63.6%

Part-time

25.9%

Participation

68.9%

Employed

6,989

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

Occupations

Professionals 1,723
Managers 1,208
Clerical/Admin 1,079
Trades 840
Community/Personal 686
Sales 534
Labourers 428
Machinery/Drivers 372

Top Industries

Healthcare 13.6%
Education 11.7%
Professional/Tech 11.0%
Construction 10.7%
Public Admin 8.9%

University

42.0%

Postgraduate

11.3%

Born Overseas

34.0%

Dwellings

4,745

Transport to Work

Botany has practical access to 4 local schools: 3 government primary schools and 1 government nursery or other school, including schools named for Botany, Banksmeadow and Pagewood. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Commuting is more car-oriented than public-transport-oriented in the recorded journey mix, with 47.5% driving and 2.5% using public transport; 42.9% work from home and 3.3% walk or cycle. That pattern suits households with flexible work or car access, while apartment residents should test daily trip times rather than assume proximity alone. Socioeconomic advantage sits in the 9th IRSAD decile, above the national middle, and 3.8% of residents need assistance. Livability is strongest for buyers prioritising urban convenience and flexible work, with transport choice worth checking street by street.

Drive

47.5%

Public Transport

2.5%

Walk / Cycle

3.3%

Work from Home

42.9%

Population Forecast

+2.16%/yr

(+301 people/yr)

Established

Botany's growth outlook is established but still active. The annual trend is 2.16%, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area reaches 45.8% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is labelled Declining young: the young share fell 2.5 percentage points, while the working share rose 3.6 points and the senior share fell 1.2. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 51.6 in 2011 to 47.7 in 2021, even as rent growth reached 52.8%. Gentrification signals are mixed: the gentrification score is 17 and stage Not gentrifying, lower than the shift score of 44 and stage Early signs. Together, overseas migration, 2.16% annual momentum and 45.8% wider-area population change point to continued demand, while the declining-young trajectory signals changing household composition.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+145

Net Internal / yr

-28

17

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +50% since 2011

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

How Botany compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 3%
Household Income
Top 10%
Rent Level
Top 4%
Apartments
Top 2%
Renters
Top 13%
Uni Educated
Top 16%
Public Transport
Bottom 49%
Born Overseas
Top 10%
Density
Top 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Botany a good suburb to live in?

Botany can suit households wanting an urban, apartment-led setting, with 50.5% of dwellings apartments, household income at the 89.7th percentile and a median age of 36. Compared with a detached-house market, it has a more compact housing profile and a strong mix of local employment and flexible work.

What is the median house price in Botany?

A current median house price should be checked against recent comparable sales. Botany is apartment-led, with 50.5% apartments, 27.8% separate houses and 20.9% semi-detached homes, so a single median can hide major differences by dwelling type and bedroom count.

What schools are in Botany?

Botany has 4 local schools, including 3 government primary schools and 1 government nursery or other school. The schools include facilities named for Botany, Banksmeadow and Pagewood. Check the exact enrolment zone before signing a lease or contract, because boundaries can cross suburb lines.

Is Botany safe?

Safety should be assessed with current incident information for the exact streets and times. Botany has 12,960 residents and a density of 4,036.3 people per sq km, so conditions can vary across a compact urban area. Address-level checks are more useful than relying on a suburb-wide impression.

Is Botany good for property investment?

Botany may suit investors seeking a substantial renter base and active growth, with 37.7% renting, $550 weekly rent, 8.6% vacancy and 107 development applications in 12 months. The 2.16% annual trend is driven by overseas migration, but new supply needs monitoring.

How is Botany's population changing?

Botany's current population is 12,960. Across the wider area, population change is 45.8% over 10 years and the annual trend is 2.16%, driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 2.5%.

What development is occurring in Botany?

Development activity is substantial at 107 applications in 12 months, including examples involving demolition, new structures, attached dwellings and subdivision. That volume is higher than a low-activity established suburb, so buyers and investors should check how new supply may affect construction disruption, resale competition and future choice.

What languages are spoken in Botany?

English ancestry is the largest recorded ancestry count at 3,311, while overseas-born residents represent 34.0% of Botany. Mandarin is the most common language recorded at 168 speakers, followed by Greek at 125, Canton at 78, Italian at 64 and Portuguese at 64. The overseas-born share is 12.4 points above national.

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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