Camden
At a median age of 43, Camden sits 3.0 years above the national figure, one of its most telling statistics. The suburb covers 4.64 km2 in the south-western fringe of Sydney, with 74% of dwellings being separate houses and household income landing at the 57.2nd percentile nationally. With 71 development applications lodged in the past 12 months and house prices rising 16.7% from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,050,000 in 2025, the area is seeing tangible pressure from surrounding growth corridors. Population reached 13,365 in 2025, growing at 0.64% annually, and forecasts point to roughly 14,168 by 2031.
Population
3,378
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,650/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
74
Median House
$965K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $965,000 reflects the broader Camden LGA's position as a mid-tier Sydney market, and the price series confirms upward movement: $900,000 in 2024 rising to $1,050,000 in 2025, a 16.7% one-year gain. Separate houses account for 74% of the stock, well above the state average for outer suburban areas, with semi-detached at 17.3% and apartments just 8.4%. The 3-bedroom dwelling is the most common type at 39.2%, while 4-plus bedroom homes make up 29.3%, pointing to a family-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,143, and mortgage-to-income at 30.0% sits right at the conventional stress threshold, meaning buyers are absorbing the full weight of the price rise without a significant income buffer.
For Buyers
The median house price of $965,000 reflects the broader Camden LGA's position as a mid-tier Sydney market, and the price series confirms upward movement: $900,000 in 2024 rising to $1,050,000 in 2025, a 16.7% one-year gain. Separate houses account for 74% of the stock, well above the state average for outer suburban areas, with semi-detached at 17.3% and apartments just 8.4%. The 3-bedroom dwelling is the most common type at 39.2%, while 4-plus bedroom homes make up 29.3%, pointing to a family-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,143, and mortgage-to-income at 30.0% sits right at the conventional stress threshold, meaning buyers are absorbing the full weight of the price rise without a significant income buffer.
For Investors
Renters account for 33.7% of Camden households, a steady tenant base for landlords. Weekly rent averages $400, and with a median house price of $965,000, gross yield sits near 2.2%, modest but not unusual for outer Sydney. The 6.2% vacancy rate is a flag worth monitoring, sitting above the typical sub-3% threshold that signals tight rental demand. Development activity is strong at 71 applications in 12 months, including secondary dwelling applications which indicate some investors are adding granny flats to improve yield. Migration is balanced, with 39 net internal arrivals and 61 net overseas arrivals per year supporting gradual demand growth. The 16.7% house price gain in one year reflects the spillover from Sydney's expansion into the south-west corridor.
Development Activity
Total DAs
386
Last 12 Months
74
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Camden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mount Hunter Public School
K-6 · 32 students
St Paul's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 622 students
Camden Public School
K-6 · 313 students
Camden South Public School
K-6 · 712 students
Mawarra Public School
K-6 · 386 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a 5.0-point rise in the senior share and a 3.4-point fall in the working-age share over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up 14.8%, which is 6.8 points below the national figure, placing Camden among the more locally-born communities in New South Wales. Ancestry is firmly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,347), Irish (403) and Scottish (326) lead the count. University qualifications reach 25.2%, running 4.9 points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and services workforce concentration. Average household size is 2.4, fractionally below the national average, and couples with children (1,049 families) outnumber couples without (628).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.0%
Houses
17.3%
Townhouse
8.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans toward ownership: 31.2% own outright, 35.1% carry a mortgage and 33.7% rent. The mortgage-holder share exceeds outright owners, indicating a suburb still in its accumulation phase rather than settled wealth. Separate houses dominate at 74.0%, with semi-detached at 17.3% and apartments at just 8.4%, a profile more typical of an outer suburban town than an infill market. Bedrooms skew toward family configurations: 39.2% are 3-bedroom and 29.3% are 4-plus bedroom, together making up more than two-thirds of stock. The price moved from $900,000 to $1,050,000 in a single year, a 16.7% rise, placing the 2025 median above the established 2024 figure by $150,000. Rent-to-income sits at 24.2%, within the affordability band, while mortgage-to-income at 30.0% is at the stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,143
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.6%
Couples, no children
2,449
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 17.3% of local workers (179 people), followed by Construction at 15.7% (163) and Education at 14.9% (154). Public Administration accounts for 7.9% and Professional/Tech for 7.7%, rounding out the top five. This pattern reflects Camden's role as a service centre for the surrounding growth area, where healthcare, schools and infrastructure construction are steady employers. By occupation, Professionals (329) lead, followed by Clerical/Admin (218) and Managers (186). Unemployment is 3.5% and the full-time employment rate is 63.9%. The SEIFA IRSD score of 1041 places Camden at decile 7 nationally for relative disadvantage, above average but short of the top tiers, consistent with its mid-income household income at the 57.2nd percentile.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
7,814
Unemployed
108
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
32.6%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
1,295
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.2%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
14.8%
Dwellings
1,279
Transport to Work
Camden is strongly car-dependent: 88.1% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, and only 2.1% use public transport, reflecting limited rail and bus frequency for a suburb of this population. Walking and cycling account for 6.1% of commutes, higher than typical outer-suburban areas and suggesting the town centre is accessible on foot for local trips. The IRSAD decile of 7 places Camden above average nationally for relative socioeconomic advantage, and the IER decile of 9 is notably high, indicating strong economic resources in the area. Volunteering runs at 13.3% of residents, and 10.9% (347 people) require daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 43. Rent-to-income at 24.2% keeps renters in the comfortable zone below the 30% stress threshold. Development activity is active at 71 applications in 12 months, including swimming pool and secondary dwelling applications, reflecting a community investing in its existing properties.
Drive
88.1%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.64%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedCamden's annual population growth of 0.64% adds roughly 85 people per year, and medium forecasts project 14,168 residents by 2031, up from 13,365 in 2025. Migration is balanced: 39 net internal arrivals and 61 net overseas arrivals per year. The suburb is classified as established with an aging trajectory, where the senior share grew 5.0 points over the decade, above typical outer suburban benchmarks. Rent growth of 31.2% over the period outpaced real income growth of 11.1%, a divergence that signals tightening rental conditions relative to incomes. The gentrification score of 28 places Camden at the early signs stage nationally, meaning demographic upward pressure is present but no transformation is underway.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+61
Net Internal / yr
+39
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Camden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Camden a good suburb to live in?
Camden scores decile 7 on IRSAD nationally, above average for relative advantage, and decile 9 on the IER economic resources index. The 74% detached house share and 39.2% 3-bedroom stock suit families. Car dependency is high at 88.1% commuting by car, so access to a vehicle is essential. Rent-to-income sits at a manageable 24.2%.
What is the median house price in Camden?
The median house price is $965,000, with recent price history showing a strong 16.7% rise from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,050,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,143, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 30.0%, sitting at the conventional stress threshold.
What schools are in Camden?
No schools are recorded inside the Camden 2570 boundary in this dataset. The suburb is surrounded by a growing LGA with expanding school infrastructure, and the local population includes a significant families segment with 1,049 couples-with-children households, suggesting demand for nearby schools is well served in adjacent areas.
Is Camden safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Camden in this dataset. As a proxy, Camden scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, above average, and household income sits at the 57.2nd percentile. The 13.3% volunteering rate and community service sector employment at 17.3% of workers suggest a cohesive local population.
Is Camden good for property investment?
House prices rose 16.7% in one year from $900,000 to $1,050,000, a strong short-term capital growth signal. Weekly rent of $400 against a $965,000 median implies roughly 2.2% gross yield, modest but typical for outer Sydney. The 6.2% vacancy rate is above average and worth watching. Net migration of 100 per year and 71 development applications in 12 months both point to ongoing demand.
How is Camden's population changing?
Camden's population reached 13,365 in 2025, growing at 0.64% per year, adding around 85 residents annually. The 10-year growth rate is 9.6%. Medium forecasts project 14,168 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.0 points over the decade. Migration is balanced, with 39 net internal and 61 net overseas arrivals annually.
How much development is happening in Camden?
There were 71 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including secondary dwelling (granny flat) applications, swimming pool installations and change-of-use applications. This activity level reflects steady reinvestment in existing properties rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with an established suburb with a 9.6% population growth over 10 years.
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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