Canley Heights
SEIFA places Canley Heights at IRSAD decile 1, the lowest possible national ranking, despite a median house price of $1,215,000, creating a stark disconnect between housing values and socioeconomic indicators. The 60.7% overseas-born rate sits 39.1 percentage points above the national baseline, making this one of the most migration-concentrated suburbs in Western Sydney. Vietnamese ancestry leads at 4,643, followed by Chinese (2,606), and Buddhism (4,566 adherents) outnumbers Christianity (3,832), a reversal rare outside a few inner-city enclaves. The 12.1% unemployment rate is double the national average, the labour force participation rate of 35.6% is one of the lowest in NSW, and 5,062 residents are not in the labour force, pointing to a large cohort outside the formal economy.
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
72
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,215,000 median house price is high for a suburb at IRSAD decile 1, reflecting Sydney-wide land value inflation rather than local amenity premium. Detached houses at 77.5% still dominate, with semi-detached at 18.8% and apartments at 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes at 48.9% are the most common, followed by four-plus at 35.4%. The median monthly mortgage of $2,000 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.1%, above the 30% stress threshold, consistent with the IRSD decile 1 reading. Recent price history shows movement from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,325,000 in 2025, a 17.3% jump that is unusually sharp for a single year. Average household size of 3.4 is 0.9 above national, reflecting multi-generational living, and vacancy at 3.9% is tight.
For Buyers
The $1,215,000 median house price is high for a suburb at IRSAD decile 1, reflecting Sydney-wide land value inflation rather than local amenity premium. Detached houses at 77.5% still dominate, with semi-detached at 18.8% and apartments at 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes at 48.9% are the most common, followed by four-plus at 35.4%. The median monthly mortgage of $2,000 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.1%, above the 30% stress threshold, consistent with the IRSD decile 1 reading. Recent price history shows movement from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,325,000 in 2025, a 17.3% jump that is unusually sharp for a single year. Average household size of 3.4 is 0.9 above national, reflecting multi-generational living, and vacancy at 3.9% is tight.
For Investors
Renters at 40.9% form the largest tenure group, well above the national average, providing a deep tenant pool. Median weekly rent of $400 against the $1,215,000 median delivers a gross yield of roughly 1.7%, low even by Sydney standards. The vacancy rate of 3.9% is tight, suggesting demand outpaces available rental stock. Fifty-nine development applications were lodged in 12 months, including subdivisions and dwelling houses, indicating steady infill activity. The population trend of 0.62% annual growth adds 140 persons per year, driven entirely by overseas migration at 333 per year while net internal migration is strongly negative at 341 per year. This demographic churn, overseas arrivals replacing domestic departures, sustains rental demand because new migrants tend to rent initially.
Development Activity
Total DAs
371
Last 12 Months
72
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Canley Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Canley Heights Public School
P-6 · 529 students
Demographics
Vietnamese (4,643) and Chinese (2,606) ancestries together account for more than half the population, with English at just 859 residents. The 60.7% overseas-born rate is the second highest in this batch. Cantonese (346), Khmer (299), Arabic (210), Mandarin (145) and other languages reflect the Southeast Asian heritage. Buddhism at 4,566 adherents is the largest religion, outnumbering Christianity (3,832) and Islam (262). The labour force participation rate of 35.6% is exceptionally low, meaning nearly two-thirds of working-age adults are not in the labour force, a figure partly explained by cultural factors, caring responsibilities and language barriers. University qualifications at 32.1% are 2.0 percentage points above the national baseline, an unexpectedly moderate rate given the low participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.5%
Houses
18.8%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters at 40.9% lead the tenure mix, ahead of outright owners at 30.4% and mortgage holders at 28.8%. The high renter share combined with IRSD decile 1 confirms concentrated disadvantage. The brief price data shows a jump from $1,130,000 in 2024 to $1,325,000 in 2025, a 17.3% increase that may reflect sample volatility given only two data points. Three-bedroom homes at 48.9% dominate, with 77.5% detached housing maintaining the low-density character. The $2,000 monthly mortgage and 31.1% mortgage-to-income ratio place new buyers above the stress threshold. Semi-detached at 18.8% has grown through subdivision, and the 59 DAs in 12 months suggest this densification will continue. SEIFA IER decile 2 and IEO decile 2 are both near the bottom nationally, indicating limited economic resources and education/occupation outcomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
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
13.0%
Couples, no children
10,358
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 16.9% (299 workers), followed by Retail at 9.4%, Professional/Tech at 9.4%, Finance at 8.6% and Manufacturing at 8.2%. The Manufacturing share of 8.2% is notably higher than the national average, reflecting Western Sydney's industrial belt. Labourers (680) are the largest occupational group, ahead of Machinery/Drivers (595) and Professionals (581), producing a heavily blue-collar profile. The 12.1% unemployment rate is double the national figure, and combined with the 35.6% participation rate, produces a suburb where fewer than one in three adults works. SEIFA readings are uniformly low: IEO decile 2, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1. The affordability ratio was stable at 76.5% in 2011 and 75.3% in 2021, meaning income growth has matched housing cost growth.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
10,579
Unemployed
637
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.7%
Part-time
23.2%
Participation
35.6%
Employed
3,166
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.1%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
60.7%
Dwellings
3,322
Transport to Work
Car use at 84.8% is the primary commute mode, with public transport at 4.2% and walking/cycling at 2.1%. Canley Heights Public School (ICSEA 935, 529 students, Government) is the sole school within the suburb, sitting well below the national benchmark of 1,000, consistent with the IEO decile 2 reading. Crime-specific data is not available. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 1 and IRSD decile 1 readings are the lowest in this batch, indicating the highest level of relative disadvantage. The 8.2% need-for-assistance rate is above the national average. The 5.2% volunteering rate is well below the national figure, consistent with a population where language barriers and working hours constrain community participation.
Drive
84.8%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.62%/yr
(+140 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 13.6% over the past decade, adding 140 persons per year at 0.62% annually. The SA2-level population reached 22,512 in 2025, with medium projections at 23,575 by 2031. The growth dynamic is almost entirely replacement-driven: overseas migration at 333 per year is nearly offset by internal outflow of 341 per year, producing a net migration effect close to zero. Young share has fallen 3.5 percentage points and senior share risen 2.7 points over the decade, following a declining-young trajectory. The gentrification score of 13 with no formal gentrification signals suggests the suburb is not undergoing demographic upgrading. Real income grew 14.3% over the decade, positive but below the rate needed to close the gap with surrounding suburbs.
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 is affordable relative to broader Sydney but ranks IRSAD decile 1, the lowest national quartile. The sole school at ICSEA 935 sits below the 1,000 benchmark. Strengths include 3.9% vacancy (tight rental market), 77.5% detached housing and a culturally rich food scene driven by Vietnamese and Chinese communities. The 12.1% unemployment rate and 35.6% participation rate are significant trade-offs.
What is the median house price in Canley Heights?
The median house price in Canley Heights is $1,215,000, with the latest quarterly data showing $1,325,000 in 2025, up 17.3% from $1,130,000 in 2024. Median monthly mortgage is $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.1% above the 30% stress threshold. Median weekly rent is $400 with a 3.9% vacancy rate.
What schools are in Canley Heights?
Canley Heights has 1 school: Canley Heights Public School (ICSEA 935, 529 students, Government primary), sitting well below the national benchmark of 1,000. The IEO decile 2 reading confirms below-average education and occupation outcomes among adult residents, consistent with the school's below-benchmark performance.
Is Canley Heights safe?
Crime-specific data is not available for Canley Heights in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1 readings indicate the highest level of relative disadvantage nationally. The 12.1% unemployment rate is double the national average, and 8.2% of the population needs assistance, both factors that correlate with elevated property crime in similar Western Sydney suburbs.
Is Canley Heights good for property investment?
The 40.9% renter share provides a deep tenant pool and 3.9% vacancy is tight. However, gross yield is low at roughly 1.7% ($400 rent vs $1,215,000 median). The 59 DAs in 12 months signal active subdivision. Growth is replacement-driven: +333 overseas arrivals per year offset by -341 internal departures. The 12.1% unemployment rate and IRSAD decile 1 limit tenant quality and rent growth potential.
How is Canley Heights's population changing?
The SA2-level population reached 22,512 in 2025, growing 0.62% per year with 140 persons added annually. Overseas migration at 333 per year drives growth, offset by internal outflow of 341 per year. Young share fell 3.5 percentage points and senior share rose 2.7 points over the decade. Medium projections reach 23,575 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Canley Heights?
Cantonese (346), Khmer (299), Arabic (210) and Mandarin (145) are the top non-English languages. Vietnamese ancestry at 4,643 is the largest group, and the 60.7% overseas-born rate sits 39.1 percentage points above national. Buddhism at 4,566 adherents outnumbers Christianity at 3,832, reflecting the Southeast Asian cultural base.
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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