Burwood
Few Sydney suburbs fit 18,224 residents into just 2.45 sqkm as intensely as Burwood, with density at 7,451.8 people per sqkm. The suburb reads as a high-density apartment centre between Croydon and Strathfield because 68.1% of dwellings are apartments and 61.6% of households rent. Its migrant base is well above the national benchmark, with 73.4% born overseas, 51.8 percentage points above national. A median age of 32, plus 56.7% university attainment, gives Burwood a younger, educated profile shaped by transport access and compact housing.
Population
18,224
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,671/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
183
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers need to treat Burwood as an apartment-first market rather than a detached-house search. The house price marker is $1,052,500, while separate houses make up only 21.4% of stock and apartments dominate at 68.1%. That scarcity keeps family-sized homes competitive compared with the broader unit supply. Mortgage costs average $2,449 per month and mortgage-to-income sits at 33.8%, flagged as stress, so borrowing capacity matters. Two-bedroom homes are the main format at 47.3%, suiting singles, couples and small families more than large-house buyers.
For Buyers
Homebuyers need to treat Burwood as an apartment-first market rather than a detached-house search. The house price marker is $1,052,500, while separate houses make up only 21.4% of stock and apartments dominate at 68.1%. That scarcity keeps family-sized homes competitive compared with the broader unit supply. Mortgage costs average $2,449 per month and mortgage-to-income sits at 33.8%, flagged as stress, so borrowing capacity matters. Two-bedroom homes are the main format at 47.3%, suiting singles, couples and small families more than large-house buyers.
For Investors
Burwood has strong rental depth because 61.6% of households rent and the weekly median rent is $500. The caution is vacancy: 10.4% is high compared with a tight market, so investors need to price and present stock carefully. Demand is supported by overseas migration, averaging +943 people a year, while internal migration is negative at -366 a year. Development activity is also heavy, with 162 applications in 12 months, which can improve amenity but may lift short-term competition for tenants.
Development Activity
Total DAs
850
Last 12 Months
183
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burwood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
MLC School
K-12 · 1393 students
Burwood Public School
K-6 · 476 students
Southern Cross Catholic College
10-12 · 139 students
Demographics
Burwood is younger and more internationally connected than the national profile. The median age is 32, which is 8.0 years below national, and 73.4% of residents were born overseas, 51.8 percentage points above national. Education is a major marker: 56.7% hold university qualifications, 26.6 points higher than national. Chinese ancestry is the largest group at 8,801 people, while Mandarin has 2,732 speakers and Canton has 873. The mix is shaped by apartment living, study links and access to metropolitan jobs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
21.4%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
68.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Burwood's housing market is compact, rental-heavy and only mildly changed across the short price series. The recorded median moved from $1,046,500 in 2024 to $1,055,807 in 2025, a 0.9% rise, with the latest price also the peak and 0.0% below peak. Ownership is lower than a traditional family suburb: 20.8% own outright, 17.7% have a mortgage and 61.6% rent. Bedroom supply explains the tenant profile, because 47.3% of homes have 2 bedrooms and only 14.6% have 4 or more.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,449
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$707
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.4%
Unoccupied
776
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.8% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.3%
Couples, no children
11,435
Total families
Economy & Employment
Burwood's economy has a professional and service-sector tilt, but the SEIFA pattern is mixed compared with a simple affluent-suburb story. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.4% and 1,026 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 14.4% and 905 workers. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 2,555 people. Education and occupation sit high at IEO decile 9, yet economic resources are IER decile 1 and disadvantage is IRSD decile 2, likely because renting is high and unemployment is 9.6% while participation is 48.6%.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
10,535
Unemployed
348
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.3%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
7,251
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.7%
Postgraduate
19.2%
Born Overseas
73.4%
Dwellings
6,658
Transport to Work
Burwood's livability is built around compact access, schooling choice and less car dependence than many suburban markets. Public transport commuting is 34.6%, car driving is 48.7% and walking or cycling is 11.3%, reflecting a dense 2.45 sqkm setting. There are 3 local schools across Independent, Government and Catholic sectors, with ICSEA ranging from 1042 to 1177. MLC School leads at 1177 with 1,393 enrolments, while Burwood Public sits at 1092. IRSAD decile 7 points to above-average overall advantage, even with mixed resource scores.
Drive
48.7%
Public Transport
34.6%
Walk / Cycle
11.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.45%/yr
(+458 people/yr)
EstablishedBurwood is forecast to keep adding residents rather than plateau. The trend path is 2.45% annual growth, equal to about 458 people a year, lifting the medium scenario from 18,756 in 2026 to 21,045 in 2031. Compared with the 2023 population of 17,522, that continues a strong upward line. Growth is driven by overseas migration at +943 people a year, offset by internal outflow of -366. The formal gentrification score is 10 and stage is Not gentrifying, so population change is more migration-led than classic income-led reinvention.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+943
Net Internal / yr
-366
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -366/yr, Strong overseas inflow +943/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burwood a good suburb to live in?
Burwood suits people who value density, transport use and services. It has 18,224 residents in 2.45 sqkm, 34.6% public transport commuting and 3 local schools, making it practical for renters, students and compact-household buyers.
What is the median house price in Burwood?
The median house price marker is $1,052,500, with the latest price series showing $1,055,807 in 2025. Prices rose 0.9% from 2024 to 2025, and the latest figure is 0.0% below the recorded peak.
What schools are in Burwood?
Burwood has 3 listed schools: MLC School, Burwood Public School and Southern Cross Catholic College. ICSEA scores range from 1042 to 1177, and sectors include Independent, Government and Catholic.
Is Burwood safe?
No suburb-level crime rate per 1k is available for Burwood, so safety should be checked against current NSW crime maps and individual streets. For context, the suburb has 18,224 residents and a dense 7,451.8 people per sqkm.
Is Burwood good for property investment?
Burwood has a deep rental pool, with 61.6% of households renting and a median rent of $500 per week. The main caution is a 10.4% vacancy rate, which is high and can make tenant selection and pricing more important.
How is Burwood's population changing?
Burwood is growing at a forecast 2.45% a year, or about 458 people annually. The medium path reaches 21,045 residents by 2031, supported by +943 overseas migration per year and offset by -366 internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Burwood?
Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language with 2,732 speakers, followed by Canton with 873 and Nepali with 811. This aligns with 73.4% of residents being born overseas.
Is there much development in Burwood?
Yes. Burwood recorded 162 development applications in the past 12 months, including activity around commercial uses, subdivision and new dwellings. That level supports renewal but can add construction disruption.
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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