Burwood Heights
At 5,017 residents per km2 packed into just 0.23 km2, Burwood Heights is one of inner-west Sydney's most compact pockets. What makes it stand out is a household income sitting at the 79th percentile nationally, paired with a university qualification rate of 48.7%, which is 18.6 percentage points above the national average. The suburb is also markedly more internationally connected than most: 47.4% of residents were born overseas, some 25.8 points higher than the national figure. Median age of 38 runs two years below national, suggesting a younger professional cohort choosing density over space.
Population
1,134
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,087/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$790K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $790,000, broadly accessible compared to the broader inner-west Sydney market. Price data shows a move from $780,000 in 2024 to $1,327,500 in 2025, though the PSI-derived figure should be read with caution given the suburb's small sample size. Stock is evenly split: 48.4% separate houses, 36.5% apartments and 15.1% semi-detached, giving buyers genuine choice across dwelling types. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,227, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 35.7% slightly outnumber renters at 34.3%, indicating an established owner base despite the suburb's density and relative affordability compared to many inner-Sydney locations.
For Buyers
The median house price is $790,000, broadly accessible compared to the broader inner-west Sydney market. Price data shows a move from $780,000 in 2024 to $1,327,500 in 2025, though the PSI-derived figure should be read with caution given the suburb's small sample size. Stock is evenly split: 48.4% separate houses, 36.5% apartments and 15.1% semi-detached, giving buyers genuine choice across dwelling types. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,227, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 35.7% slightly outnumber renters at 34.3%, indicating an established owner base despite the suburb's density and relative affordability compared to many inner-Sydney locations.
For Investors
A 34.3% renter share and weekly rent of $475 provide a reasonable tenant pool, but the vacancy rate of 5.1% is higher than the sub-3% levels that signal tight rental conditions, suggesting some softness in the apartment segment. Ten development applications in the past 12 months, a modest pace for the 0.23 km2 area, include at least one secondary dwelling project, consistent with incremental densification rather than wholesale new supply. The suburb's 79th-percentile household income and strong professional base support sustained rental demand. Rent-to-income at 22.8% keeps tenants comfortable, which tends to reduce churn compared to stressed markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+150.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The overseas-born share of 47.4% is 25.8 percentage points above the national average, among the highest concentrations in the inner-west Sydney corridor. Chinese ancestry leads at 243 residents, followed by English (140) and Italian (138), reflecting successive migrant waves layered over a British-origin base. Mandarin is spoken by 55 residents, Italian by 31 and Arabic by 29. The median age of 38 sits 2 years below the national figure, and the average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, consistent with families and couples-with-children making up 36.6% of households. University qualifications reach 48.7%, which is 18.6 points above the national rate, pointing to a professional, knowledge-economy resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
48.4%
Houses
15.1%
Townhouse
36.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is roughly balanced across three groups: 35.7% own outright, 30.0% carry a mortgage and 34.3% rent. The 35.7% outright ownership rate, higher than many comparable-density suburbs, points to long-held properties and established households. Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller dwellings: 34.4% are two-bedroom and 7.7% are studio or one-bedroom, while three-bedroom homes account for 24.9% and four-plus for 33.1%. The $790,000 median reflects a mid-market position relative to the broader inner-west, where many comparable suburbs trade well above $1 million. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,227 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress level despite household income in the 79th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,227
Rent / wk
$475
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$903
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
20
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.9%
Couples, no children
851
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment mix at 20.8% of workers (85 people), well above the share in most general Sydney suburbs. Professional and Technical services follow at 15.7% (64 workers), then Education at 10.5% (43), Finance at 8.6% (35) and Public Administration at 8.1% (33). By occupation, Professionals account for 174 workers and Managers for 87, together forming the two largest groups. The unemployment rate is 5.6% and the full-time employment rate is 66.4%, with 305 residents employed full-time and 154 part-time. Participation at 50.4% is lower than income levels would suggest, partly because 305 residents are not in the labour force, likely reflecting a mix of retirees and full-time carers in an otherwise professional suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
28.0%
Participation
50.4%
Employed
459
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.7%
Postgraduate
15.1%
Born Overseas
47.4%
Dwellings
370
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 80.0% of residents drive to work, above the national average, and only 9.5% use public transport, which is lower than comparable inner-west suburbs with direct rail access. Walking and cycling account for 3.6% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby schools in Burwood, Croydon and Strathfield. Crime data is not available for Burwood Heights in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income at the 79th percentile nationally and a rent-to-income ratio of 22.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, are consistent with a low-disadvantage profile. The 4.9% of residents needing daily assistance (49 people) is modest for the population of 1,134.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
9.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burwood Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burwood Heights a good suburb to live in?
Burwood Heights suits professionals and families who value density and a multicultural setting. Household income sits at the 79th percentile nationally and university qualifications reach 48.7%, which is 18.6 points above national. The trade-off is car dependence, with 80% of residents driving to work and limited schools within the 0.23 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Burwood Heights?
The PSI-derived median house price is $790,000. Price data shows a move from $780,000 in 2024 to $1,327,500 in 2025, though the small sample size warrants caution. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,227, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Burwood Heights?
No schools are recorded within the Burwood Heights boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.23 km2, so families typically access schools in neighbouring Burwood, Croydon and Strathfield. Locally, 48.7% of residents hold university qualifications, well above the national average.
Is Burwood Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Burwood Heights in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits at the 79th percentile nationally and rent-to-income at 22.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, both consistent with a low-disadvantage profile. Only 4.9% of the 1,134 residents need daily assistance.
Is Burwood Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $475 against a $790,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.1%, moderate for inner-western Sydney. The 34.3% renter share provides a steady tenant base, but the 5.1% vacancy rate is above the sub-3% tight-market threshold. The 79th-percentile household income supports sustained rental demand, and 10 development applications in 12 months suggest low near-term supply pressure.
How is Burwood Heights's population changing?
With a built-out 0.23 km2 footprint and 5,017 residents per km2, physical expansion is limited. Resident stability is high: 72.3% stayed at the same address over the census period. The overseas-born share of 47.4%, which is 25.8 points above the national figure, indicates ongoing arrival of professional migrants as the main demographic driver.
What languages are spoken in Burwood Heights?
About 47.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 25.8 percentage points above the national average. Mandarin is the most spoken non-English language with 55 speakers, followed by Italian (31), Arabic (29), Cantonese (22) and Greek (22), reflecting the suburb's Chinese, Italian and Middle Eastern community layers.
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 Burwood Heights on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map