Canada Bay
At a median house price of $1,925,000 in a suburb covering just 0.32 km2, Canada Bay delivers premium inner-west density at a scale most buyers underestimate. Household income sits in the 92nd percentile nationally, yet the suburb population of 1,308 means competition for each listing is intense. University qualifications reach 51.7%, which is 21.6 percentage points above the national figure, and Italian heritage (317 residents) shapes a distinct cultural identity that separates this pocket from surrounding suburbs. Only 8 development applications in the past 12 months signal very limited new supply, keeping the premium premium.
Population
1,308
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,473/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$1.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,925,000 median house price reflects a slight softening from $1,972,500 in 2024, a 2.4% decline that narrows the entry gap without signalling distress. Separate houses make up 59.1% of stock, above average for inner-west precincts of this density, giving detached buyers genuine options. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 38.6% and four-plus for 25.8%, skewing toward family-sized homes rather than smaller units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which is better than many comparable harbour-fringe suburbs. At 34.5% of households owning outright, a significant portion of stock is held by long-term, debt-free residents who are unlikely to sell quickly, so listings remain scarce.
For Buyers
The $1,925,000 median house price reflects a slight softening from $1,972,500 in 2024, a 2.4% decline that narrows the entry gap without signalling distress. Separate houses make up 59.1% of stock, above average for inner-west precincts of this density, giving detached buyers genuine options. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 38.6% and four-plus for 25.8%, skewing toward family-sized homes rather than smaller units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which is better than many comparable harbour-fringe suburbs. At 34.5% of households owning outright, a significant portion of stock is held by long-term, debt-free residents who are unlikely to sell quickly, so listings remain scarce.
For Investors
A 32.8% renter share and $550 weekly rent give landlords a functional tenant pool, but the yield arithmetic is thin. Against the $1,925,000 median, $550 per week implies a gross yield below 1.5%, lower than most income-driven investors would accept. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, sitting higher than the inner-west baseline, which points to softness in the rental market rather than strong demand. Development activity logged only 8 applications in 12 months for a suburb of 1,308 people, confirming supply is extremely constrained. The investment case is capital-led: household income in the 92nd percentile nationally and proximity to the CBD underpin long-run price support, but short-term yield and vacancy data suggest patience is required.
Development Activity
Total DAs
41
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+175.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure, but the profile is more educated and more established than the national average suggests. University qualifications at 51.7% are 21.6 percentage points above national, consistent with a white-collar household base. Overseas-born residents reach 32.1%, which is 10.5 percentage points above the national figure, with Italian ancestry leading at 317 residents and Italian remaining the top non-English language spoken at home by 71 speakers. Average household size is 2.7, slightly above the national 2.5, reflecting the family-oriented housing mix. Couples with children make up 511 of 1,124 total families, the largest household type, and the volunteering rate of 13.2% points to civic engagement above the passive urban average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.1%
Houses
16.5%
Townhouse
24.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three relatively even bands: 34.5% own outright, 32.8% carry a mortgage and 32.8% rent, a distribution that signals a mix of established owners, recent buyers and transient renters. Separate houses account for 59.1% of dwellings, well above what the 0.32 km2 footprint might imply, with apartments at 24.4% and semi-detached at 16.5%. The bedroom profile favours families: three-bedroom dwellings at 38.6% and four-plus at 25.8% together make up nearly two-thirds of stock. Prices moved from $1,972,500 in 2024 to $1,925,000 in 2025, a 2.4% drop over one year. Rent-to-income at 22.2% keeps renters below the 30% stress threshold, though the $550 weekly rent still demands higher-than-average incomes compared to outer-suburban markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,033
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,056
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
36
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.3%
Couples, no children
1,124
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge-intensive industries: Education leads at 13.0% of workers, followed by Healthcare at 12.2%, Finance at 10.9% and Professional/Tech at 10.2%. Professionals account for 200 of local workers and Managers for 130, the two highest-paid occupation groups, which aligns with household income in the 92nd percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, close to full employment, and 71.7% of employed residents work full time. The participation rate of 56.8% is below the labour force norm, partly because 376 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a population that includes retirees and early-career households on higher incomes. Construction at 9.6% of industries is notable given the very low development activity, suggesting residents work in construction elsewhere rather than locally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.7%
Part-time
25.0%
Participation
56.8%
Employed
584
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.7%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
32.1%
Dwellings
472
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 79.0%, above the inner-west norm, while public transport use at 7.3% and walking or cycling at 3.5% are lower than comparable harbour-adjacent suburbs. The compact 0.32 km2 area means most amenity is accessed by car rather than on foot. No crime data is recorded in this dataset for Canada Bay, so no direct safety ranking is available. The need-assistance rate of 4.5% (57 people) is modest relative to population. Rent-to-income at 22.2% keeps renting financially manageable compared to many premium suburbs. The high income base, 51.7% university qualification rate at 21.6 points above national, and low unemployment of 3.3% point to a comfortable socioeconomic environment, though the absence of SEIFA decile data prevents a direct national percentile comparison.
Drive
79.0%
Public Transport
7.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Canada Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada Bay a good suburb to live in?
Canada Bay's household income sits in the 92nd percentile nationally and 51.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 21.6 points above the national figure. The suburb has a low unemployment rate of 3.3% and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, just below the stress threshold. The main constraint is cost: the median house price is $1,925,000.
What is the median house price in Canada Bay?
The median house price is $1,925,000 as of 2025, down 2.4% from $1,972,500 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $3,033, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%. Separate houses make up 59.1% of the 1,308-resident suburb's stock.
What schools are in Canada Bay?
No schools are recorded inside the 0.32 km2 Canada Bay boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, 51.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 21.6 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting a highly educated household base that typically prioritises school access in nearby areas.
Is Canada Bay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Canada Bay in this dataset. As indirect indicators: the unemployment rate is 3.3%, close to full employment, and only 4.5% of residents (57 people) require daily assistance. Household income in the 92nd percentile nationally is generally associated with lower crime rates compared to disadvantaged areas.
Is Canada Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. A 32.8% renter share supports demand, but $550 weekly rent against a $1,925,000 median gives a gross yield below 1.5%. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, suggesting rental softness. Only 8 development applications in 12 months confirms constrained supply, which supports long-run capital values rather than income returns.
How is Canada Bay's population changing?
Canada Bay's population of 1,308 is packed into just 0.32 km2, giving a density of 4,057 people per km2. Only 8 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating the suburb is largely built out with minimal new dwellings expected. Resident turnover is low at 17.1%, meaning 82.9% of residents stayed in place, consistent with a stable, multigenerational owner base.
What languages are spoken in Canada Bay?
About 32.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 10.5 percentage points above the national figure. Italian is the top non-English language with 71 speakers, followed by Mandarin (24), Cantonese (23) and Arabic (14). Italian ancestry is the leading heritage group with 317 residents, giving the suburb a distinct Mediterranean character relative to surrounding inner-west areas.
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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