Canley Heights
With 60.7% of residents born overseas, Canley Heights has a stronger migrant-majority profile than the national average, by 39.1 percentage points. Its 12,320 residents occupy just 2.61 square kilometres, creating a density of 4,729 people per square kilometre. Separate houses account for 77.5% of dwellings, while the average household size of 3.4 is 0.9 higher than the national figure. Nearby Canley Vale and Cabramatta share the same western Sydney setting, but Canley Heights has particularly strong Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry counts of 4,643 and 2,606. That cultural base supports established family networks, while household income at the 46.4 percentile and 62.8% car-driver share shape affordability and daily routines.
Population
12,320
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,486/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
80
Canley Heights suits buyers prioritising conventional family housing: 77.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 48.9% have 3 bedrooms and 35.4% have 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, while mortgage costs absorb 31.1% of household income, higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income share. That gap makes borrowing capacity important, especially for larger households. Renting remains substantial at 40.1%, which can add competition from households seeking ownership. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, the 3.7% apartment share points to a house-focused search, while 18.8% semi-detached stock provides a lower-maintenance alternative. Check recent settled sales, parking and renovation constraints before setting a budget.
For Buyers
Canley Heights suits buyers prioritising conventional family housing: 77.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 48.9% have 3 bedrooms and 35.4% have 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, while mortgage costs absorb 31.1% of household income, higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income share. That gap makes borrowing capacity important, especially for larger households. Renting remains substantial at 40.1%, which can add competition from households seeking ownership. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, the 3.7% apartment share points to a house-focused search, while 18.8% semi-detached stock provides a lower-maintenance alternative. Check recent settled sales, parking and renovation constraints before setting a budget.
For Investors
Investor screening should begin with the tenant base and redevelopment activity. Renting accounts for 40.1% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 3.9%, giving a useful starting point for local demand analysis. Development activity reached 82 applications in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual occupancy example, so future competition may be higher than in a tightly supply-constrained pocket. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can reinforce demand for practical family rentals. Rent growth of 38.5% is higher than the 0.62% annual population trend, while the 31.1% mortgage-to-income ratio is higher than the 26.9% rent burden. Compare achievable rent, insurance and maintenance against purchase price before relying on yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
394
Last 12 Months
80
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+27.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Canley Heights
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Canley Heights has a distinctly migrant-majority profile: 60.7% of residents were born overseas, 39.1 percentage points above the national share. Vietnamese ancestry is recorded for 4,643 people and Chinese ancestry for 2,606, while Buddhism counts 4,566 and Christianity 3,832. The median age is 37, 3 years below the national figure, yet average household size is 3.4, or 0.9 above national. Couples with children make up 49.6% of families, compared with 20.3% couples without children, helping explain demand for 3 and 4-plus bedroom homes. Residential stability is notable, with 83.3% staying at the same address against 16.7% turnover. Nearby Canley Vale and Cabramatta share the multicultural corridor, but Canley Heights has a particularly strong Vietnamese imprint.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.5%
Houses
18.8%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is strongly suburban rather than apartment-led. Separate houses account for 77.5%, compared with 3.7% apartments and 18.8% semi-detached dwellings. Bedroom supply follows that pattern: 48.9% are 3-bedroom homes and 35.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, giving family households more choice than compact-stock markets. Tenure is split between 29.8% owned outright, 28.3% mortgaged and 40.1% rented, so rental demand and owner occupancy both matter. The 31.1% mortgage-to-income ratio is higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income ratio, indicating greater pressure for leveraged buyers. A 3.9% vacancy rate is a useful market check, while density of 4,729 people per square kilometre across 2.61 square kilometres makes parking and redevelopment potential important. Compared with nearby Canley Vale, assess each street before choosing between a house, semi or apartment.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $700 · units $460
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$481
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
134
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.6%
Couples with children
20.3%
Couples, no children
27.3%
Single parent
3,086
Total families
Economy & Employment
Canley Heights has a mixed service and practical-work economy. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 16.9% and 299 workers, higher than Retail and Professional/Tech at 9.4% and 167 each; Finance contributes 8.6% and Manufacturing 8.2%. Occupations reflect that spread, led by Labourers at 680, Machinery/Drivers at 595, Professionals at 581, Clerical/Admin at 512 and Trades at 408. Labour-force participation is 43.1%, unemployment is 10.0% and full-time employment is 52.1%, so household resilience can vary by tenure and working hours. Socioeconomic indexes are low, with IEO and IER both at decile 2 and IRSAD and IRSD at decile 1. That disadvantage profile sits below the national middle despite 32.1% university attainment, likely reflecting lower participation and the occupational mix. Household income ranks at the 46.4 percentile, close to the national midpoint.
Unemployment
10.0%
Labour Force
4,362
Unemployed
436
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.1%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
43.1%
Employed
3,926
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.1%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
60.7%
Dwellings
3,322
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car oriented: 62.8% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.1% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling. A further 25.9% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure but increases the value of reliable local services. Canley Heights has 1 government primary school within the suburb; families should check enrolment zones and nearby government, Catholic and independent options against the exact address. Density is 4,729 people per square kilometre across 2.61 square kilometres, supporting access to shops and services but making parking and traffic practical considerations. Socioeconomic advantage is low at IRSAD decile 1, below the middle decile. No crime rate is available, so use current NSW Police mapping and visit the street at different times. Compared with less car-dependent areas, transport choice is narrower.
Drive
62.8%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
25.9%
Population Forecast
+0.62%/yr
(+140 people/yr)
EstablishedCanley Heights is an established suburb with a forecast annual trend of 0.62%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 13.6% over 10 years, while the shift profile is labelled Declining young: the young share fell 3.5 percentage points and the senior share rose 2.7. That points to gradual household ageing rather than a rapid youth influx. Rental growth of 38.5% is higher than the 0.62% annual population trend, suggesting housing costs have moved faster than headcount. Gentrification is not yet the dominant pattern: Canley Heights is labelled Not gentrifying with a score of 13, while the shift measure records Early signs at 34. Affordability remained Stable, moving from 76.5 in 2011 to 75.3 in 2021, so growth is more likely to come from migration and incremental redevelopment than a wholesale tenure change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+333
Net Internal / yr
-341
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011, Net internal outflow -341/yr, Strong overseas inflow +333/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Canley Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canley Heights a good suburb to live in?
Canley Heights can suit households wanting detached housing and established cultural networks. It has 77.5% separate houses, a median age of 37 and 62.8% car-driver travel, so it is more family and car oriented than apartment-led or transit-led areas. Check parking, school zones and street conditions before committing.
What is the median house price in Canley Heights?
No single median house price is stated for Canley Heights. Confirm recent settled sales in postcode 2166 and compare several similar properties, because values can vary by street and dwelling type. Useful context includes $400 weekly rent, 77.5% separate houses and 28.3% mortgage ownership.
What schools are in Canley Heights?
Canley Heights has 1 government primary school, Canley Heights Public School. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and compare nearby government, Catholic and independent schools, since boundaries can cross suburb lines. The best option will depend on address, year level, transport and available places.
Is Canley Heights safe?
No crime rate is available for Canley Heights, so use current NSW Police mapping, recent local reports and an address-level visit before deciding. Check lighting, parking and traffic at different times. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 1, which describes socioeconomic conditions rather than providing a direct safety score.
Is Canley Heights good for property investment?
Canley Heights can warrant an investment review because 40.1% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 3.9%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 82 development applications in 12 months may add competing stock. Compare achievable rent, insurance, maintenance and purchase price carefully, as the 31.1% mortgage-to-income ratio signals financing pressure.
How is Canley Heights's population changing?
The suburb has 12,320 residents today. Growth across the wider area is running at 0.62% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver and 13.6% population change over 10 years. The shift is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 3.5 points and the senior share up 2.7, indicating gradual ageing rather than rapid youth expansion.
What languages are spoken in Canley Heights?
Recorded languages include Canton at 346 people, Khmer at 299, Arabic at 210, Oth at 181 and Mandarin at 145. The language profile aligns with the suburb's 60.7% overseas-born population and its strong Vietnamese and Chinese ancestry counts of 4,643 and 2,606.
Is Canley Heights seeing much development?
Development activity reached 82 applications in 12 months, including a complying certificate for a 2-dwelling attached dual occupancy. This points to ongoing incremental redevelopment rather than a single large project. Buyers and investors should check proposed works, parking impacts and construction activity street by street before purchasing.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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