Catherine Field
A 170.5% population rise over ten years makes Catherine Field one of Sydney's fastest-growing greenfield corridors, yet the suburb still holds just 2,609 residents across 10.31 square kilometres. The household income sits at the 88.4th percentile nationally, pairing with a $1,080,000 median house price and a stock that is 96.9% detached houses with 72.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, pointing to a suburb shaped by young families taking on large mortgages in a fast-expanding outer ring of south-west Sydney.
Population
2,609
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,316/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
113
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,080,000 sits well above the national median for detached houses, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% stays below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes reach the 88.4th percentile nationally. Price history shows growth from $1,045,000 in 2024 to $1,130,000 in 2025, an 8.1% move in one year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9% of dwellings, and 72.1% of those have four or more bedrooms, which means buyers get genuine family-sized homes rather than compact product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500. Only 20.8% of residents rent compared to higher renter shares across most of Sydney, reflecting a community of owner-occupiers rather than tenants.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,080,000 sits well above the national median for detached houses, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% stays below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes reach the 88.4th percentile nationally. Price history shows growth from $1,045,000 in 2024 to $1,130,000 in 2025, an 8.1% move in one year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9% of dwellings, and 72.1% of those have four or more bedrooms, which means buyers get genuine family-sized homes rather than compact product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500. Only 20.8% of residents rent compared to higher renter shares across most of Sydney, reflecting a community of owner-occupiers rather than tenants.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $520 against a $1,080,000 median produces a gross yield near 2.5%, below Sydney inner-ring benchmarks but supported by strong demand drivers. The vacancy rate of 4.3% is elevated, suggesting some softness in the rental pool, though population growth at 4.77% annually is among the highest in the state and absorbs new supply over time. Internal migration delivers a net 1,618 new residents per year on average, making this one of the most active migration destinations in NSW. Development activity recorded 99 applications in the past 12 months, with most being new dwelling houses rather than alterations, reflecting a suburb still in active build-out phase. Medium forecasts put the broader area population at 24,306 by 2031.
Development Activity
Total DAs
909
Last 12 Months
113
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7.0 years below the national average, which is the clearest signal that Catherine Field attracts young household formation rather than established or downsizing residents. Overseas-born residents account for 29.5% of the population, 7.9 percentage points above the national rate. Ancestry is led by English (475), Italian (443) and Maltese (201), giving the suburb a southern-European heritage alongside broader diversity. The average household size of 3.3 is 0.8 above the national figure, consistent with the dominance of couples-with-children families at 1,099 households. University qualifications reach 30.1% of residents, matching the national figure exactly, while 29.5% of residents were born overseas, reflecting the multicultural character typical of Sydney's growth corridors.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.9%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure breaks into 33.4% owning outright, 45.8% on a mortgage and 20.8% renting, a mortgage-heavy profile typical of a young suburb where families have bought recently and have not yet paid down loans. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 96.9%, with semi-detached at 2.3% and apartments at just 0.4%, so product diversity is minimal. By bedroom count, 72.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 23.0% have three, leaving only 4.9% in smaller configurations. The median house price climbed from $1,045,000 in 2024 to $1,130,000 in 2025, an 8.1% gain. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% and rent-to-income of 22.5% both sit below stress thresholds, a sign that incomes have grown alongside prices rather than falling behind.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$520
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$885
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
34
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples, no children
2,327
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction (16.4%, 131 workers) and Healthcare (16.4%, 131 workers) jointly lead the local industry mix, with Education at 10.0% and Transport at 7.1% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals (234) and Clerical/Admin workers (191) make up the largest groups, followed by Managers (166) and Labourers (126). The unemployment rate is 4.8% and the full-time employment rate reaches 61.8%, with 698 residents employed full-time. The IRSAD decile of 8 and IRSD decile of 7 place Catherine Field in the upper-middle advantage tier nationally. The IER decile of 10 is the standout: it reflects high economic resources relative to needs, likely because the large family homes and high household incomes are counted against relatively modest local infrastructure demands.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
11,459
Unemployed
236
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
1,130
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
7.4%
Born Overseas
29.5%
Dwellings
767
Transport to Work
Catherine Field is car-dependent by design: 87.4% of residents drive to work and only 3.7% use public transport, compared to the higher PT uptake seen in established Sydney suburbs closer to the CBD. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the upper advantage tier nationally. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income sits at 24.9% and rent-to-income at 22.5%, both below the 30% benchmark. Only 4.5% of residents require daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in adjacent established suburbs. The volunteering rate of 7.7% is modest, which is typical of a recently settled community still building local networks.
Drive
87.4%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+4.77%/yr
(+1,007 people/yr)
High GrowthPopulation grew 170.5% over the decade, with the broader SA2 area tracking from 17,037 residents in 2023 to 21,103 by 2025. The annual growth rate of 4.77% translates to roughly 1,007 additional residents per year, driven overwhelmingly by internal migration at a net 1,618 per year compared to overseas net migration of only 156. The forecast trajectory is classified as Rejuvenating, with real income growth of 47.6% and rent growth of 66.7% recorded over the period. Affordability has improved slightly, dropping from 67.1% in 2011 to 61.6% in 2021, suggesting wages are keeping pace better than in many Sydney markets. Medium forecasts point to the area reaching 24,306 residents by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+156
Net Internal / yr
+1,618
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Catherine Field compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catherine Field a good suburb to live in?
Catherine Field scores decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the upper advantage tier nationally, and household income sits at the 88.4th percentile. Mortgage stress is low at 24.9% of income. The suburb suits young families wanting large detached homes, with 72.1% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The main trade-off is high car dependence, with only 3.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Catherine Field?
The median house price is $1,080,000. Prices rose from $1,045,000 in 2024 to $1,130,000 in 2025, an 8.1% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% stays below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes reach the 88.4th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Catherine Field?
No schools are recorded inside the Catherine Field boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb's population of 2,609 includes many young families, with 1,099 households classified as couples with children, so school access in adjacent areas is a key consideration.
Is Catherine Field safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Catherine Field in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the upper-middle tier nationally. Only 4.5% of residents (113 people) need daily assistance, which is consistent with a low-disadvantage, recently settled community.
Is Catherine Field good for property investment?
The investment case rests on growth fundamentals rather than yield. Weekly rent of $520 against a $1,080,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.5%, which is below average. However, population growth at 4.77% annually ranks among the highest in NSW, internal migration delivers 1,618 net new residents per year, and 99 development applications in the past 12 months confirm active expansion. Prices rose 8.1% in one year.
How is Catherine Field's population changing?
Catherine Field grew 170.5% over the past decade. The broader SA2 area reached 21,103 residents by 2025, up from 17,037 in 2023. Annual growth of 4.77% adds roughly 1,007 residents per year, driven mainly by internal migration at a net 1,618 per year. Medium forecasts project the area reaching 24,306 residents by 2031.
How much development is happening in Catherine Field?
There were 99 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, predominantly for new dwelling houses rather than alterations. This reflects a suburb still in active build-out, consistent with its greenfield character, 4.77% annual population growth and a vacancy rate of 4.3% as new stock comes online.
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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