Burwood
A 14.8% pullback from the Oct-Dec 2023 house-price peak defines Burwood as a better-timed inner east entry point than it looked recently, while the longer run is still up 69.2% since 2013. With 15,147 residents at 2,490 people per sq km, it is a compact middle-ring suburb rather than a low-density pocket. Compared with neighbouring Ashwood or Camberwell, the headline difference is the mix of 39.4% renting, 48.8% overseas-born residents and a high 14.8% vacancy rate, so demand is broad but turnover can be uneven.
Population
15,147
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,684/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are paying a median $1,320,000 for houses after the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter slipped 14.8% below the $1,549,000 peak, which can create more negotiating room than in late 2023. Detached homes still make up 58.0% of dwellings, with 26.6% semi-detached and 15.4% apartments, so family stock remains meaningful. The caution is serviceability: the $2,500 monthly mortgage equates to 34.3% of income, higher than rent stress settings and flagged as mortgage stress.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying a median $1,320,000 for houses after the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter slipped 14.8% below the $1,549,000 peak, which can create more negotiating room than in late 2023. Detached homes still make up 58.0% of dwellings, with 26.6% semi-detached and 15.4% apartments, so family stock remains meaningful. The caution is serviceability: the $2,500 monthly mortgage equates to 34.3% of income, higher than rent stress settings and flagged as mortgage stress.
For Investors
Investors get a renter-heavy market, with 39.4% of homes leased and weekly rent at $411, but the 14.8% vacancy rate is high compared with a tight rental setting. That means income assumptions need conservatism because available stock can dilute urgency. Demand support comes from 48.8% overseas-born residents, nearby tertiary pull and forecast overseas migration averaging 884 people a year, while 17 development applications in 12 months point to steady rather than excessive new supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+91.7%
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
Presbyterian Ladies' College
Prep-12 · 1530 students
Mount Scopus Memorial College
Prep-12 · 1170 students
Wattle Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 251 students
Demographics
Burwood skews younger and more educated than the national profile: the median age is 34, which is 6.0 years below national, and 56.9% hold university qualifications, 26.8 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 48.8%, led by Chinese ancestry at 3,792 people, English at 3,167 and Indian at 1,022. Mandarin is the largest non-English language with 1,115 speakers, helping explain the suburb's student and professional feel compared with Camberwell.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.0%
Houses
26.6%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is mixed but still house-led: 58.0% separate houses sit beside 26.6% semi-detached homes and 15.4% apartments, giving more density than traditional family suburbs without becoming a tower market. Ownership is split across 32.0% owned outright, 28.6% mortgaged and 39.4% renting. Prices have risen 69.2% from $780,000 in 2013 to a median $1,320,000, but the latest figure is 14.8% below the $1,549,000 peak, which matters for buyers comparing Burwood with Surrey Hills or Ashwood.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$411
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.8%
Unoccupied
949
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
10,044
Total families
Economy & Employment
Burwood's workforce tilts toward knowledge and care sectors, which supports above-average education scores. Healthcare employs 935 people or 16.9%, followed by education at 703, professional and tech at 688, retail at 517 and finance at 365. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,345, ahead of 1,005 managers. SEIFA is uneven: IEO ranks decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8, but IER decile 3 shows income resources are lower than the suburb's qualifications suggest, partly because students and renters are prominent.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
8,914
Unemployed
462
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
6,913
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.9%
Postgraduate
20.2%
Born Overseas
48.8%
Dwellings
5,456
Transport to Work
Livability is education-led, with 3 local schools ranging from ICSEA 1122 to 1207, so the top independent campus sits higher than the local primary baseline. Presbyterian Ladies' College anchors the top end with 1,530 students and ICSEA 1207, while Mount Scopus Memorial College adds another independent pathway at 1,170 and ICSEA 1159; there is also a government primary option. Transport is car-oriented, with 84.1% driving, 5.6% using public transport and 4.1% walking or cycling. Safety needs context: 940 offences equal 62.1 per 1,000, led by 570 property and deception offences.
Drive
84.1%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.54%/yr
(+238 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is positive but mixed. The trend forecast adds 238 residents a year, or 1.54% annually, taking the medium population path from 14,944 in 2026 to 16,134 in 2031. Migration is the main engine because overseas inflow averages 884 people a year while internal migration is -161, meaning locals are still being priced or pulled elsewhere. Gentrification is Active with a score of 47, below the shift score of 58, and the COVID dip of -6.9% has been more than recovered.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+884
Net Internal / yr
-161
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal outflow -161/yr, Strong overseas inflow +884/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 20%, COVID recovered (-7% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
940
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
62.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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?
Yes, Burwood suits buyers who value schools, tertiary access and established housing. It has 15,147 residents, 3 local schools and ICSEA scores up to 1207, although the 62.1 offences per 1,000 and car-driver share of 84.1% mean it is not a low-traffic lifestyle choice.
What is the median house price in Burwood?
The median house price in Burwood is $1,320,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 14.8% below the $1,549,000 peak recorded in Oct-Dec 2023, but still 69.2% higher than the $780,000 level recorded in 2013.
What schools are in Burwood?
Burwood has 3 local schools: Presbyterian Ladies' College, Mount Scopus Memorial College and Wattle Park Primary School. ICSEA results range from 1122 to 1207, with 2 independent schools and 1 government primary represented.
Is Burwood safe?
Burwood recorded 940 offences, equal to 62.1 per 1,000 residents. The largest category was property and deception offences with 570 incidents, so safety varies by street and asset security rather than being a simple whole-suburb label.
Is Burwood good for property investment?
Burwood has investment depth because 39.4% of dwellings are rented and weekly rent is $411. The main caution is the 14.8% vacancy rate, which is higher than a tight market, so cash-flow buffers and tenant quality matter.
How is Burwood's population changing?
Burwood is growing on the medium path from 14,944 people in 2026 to 16,134 in 2031. The annual trend is 238 extra residents, or 1.54%, driven mainly by overseas migration averaging 884 people a year despite -161 internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Burwood?
Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language in Burwood, with 1,115 speakers, followed by Cantonese with 305, Greek with 201, Sinhalese with 178 and Hindi with 165. This fits the 48.8% overseas-born share.
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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