Cattai
At a median house price of $2,075,000, Cattai sits well above the typical Sydney fringe market, yet its 1,077 residents occupy 22.7 square kilometres at a density of just 47.4 people per km2. Household income ranks in the 96.6th percentile nationally, an unusually high figure for a semi-rural area. The suburb is overwhelmingly owner-occupied with 89.9% of households either owning outright or carrying a mortgage, and 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses on large lots. Construction dominates the local employment base at 29.1%, suggesting many residents are trade operators who have chosen a rural setting while earning professional-tier incomes.
Population
1,077
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,878/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$2.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $2,075,000 in 2024-2025 places Cattai well above most Sydney outer-ring suburbs. The price history shows a strong move from $1,851,250 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025, a 20.2% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,284, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 96.4% separate houses and 69.8% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, the stock skews toward large family homes rather than medium-density product. Outright owners account for 34.4% and mortgage holders 55.5%, meaning most buyers carry debt, which is consistent with the suburb's mortgage-belt identity signal. The renting share of 10.0% is low compared to wider Sydney, reinforcing that this is a predominantly owner-occupier community.
For Buyers
The median house price of $2,075,000 in 2024-2025 places Cattai well above most Sydney outer-ring suburbs. The price history shows a strong move from $1,851,250 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025, a 20.2% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,284, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 96.4% separate houses and 69.8% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, the stock skews toward large family homes rather than medium-density product. Outright owners account for 34.4% and mortgage holders 55.5%, meaning most buyers carry debt, which is consistent with the suburb's mortgage-belt identity signal. The renting share of 10.0% is low compared to wider Sydney, reinforcing that this is a predominantly owner-occupier community.
For Investors
The rental market in Cattai is thin: only 10.0% of households rent, against a much higher state average, and the vacancy rate sits at 3.7%. Weekly rent of $560 against a $2,075,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 1.4%, below typical investment thresholds. Development activity recorded 22 applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling house additions and residential accommodation works, suggesting gradual estate consolidation rather than new-supply pressure. The 20.2% price growth in a single year from 2024 to 2025 is the strongest investment case, but the entry price is high and the tenant pool is narrow. The 79.0% resident stability rate means turnover is low, which supports capital preservation but limits speculative opportunity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
141
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-17.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cattai iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cattai Public School
K-6 · 57 students
Demographics
Cattai has a median age of 40, equal to the national figure, with an average household size of 3.3, which is 0.8 above national and consistent with a suburb dominated by couples with children: 473 couple-with-children families compared to 196 couples without. The overseas-born share is 11.8%, which is 9.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an Anglo-leaning ancestry profile led by English (462 residents), Scottish (114) and Irish (94). University qualifications at 23.3% are 6.8 percentage points below the national figure, pointing to a skilled-trades and owner-manager workforce rather than a white-collar professional base. The volunteering rate of 14.3% suggests active community engagement relative to the small population of 1,077.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.4%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Cattai is almost entirely freestanding: 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments at just 2.6% and semi-detached at 1.0%. The four-plus bedroom segment dominates at 69.8%, with three-bedroom at 20.5%, reflecting the large-lot rural character. The median price rose from $1,851,250 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025, a 20.2% one-year gain, and the PSI-derived current estimate sits at $2,075,000. Tenure is skewed toward owners: 34.4% own outright and 55.5% hold a mortgage, with just 10.0% renting, well below the NSW state average. Mortgage-to-income at 26.4% and rent-to-income at 19.5% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating financial comfort relative to incomes in the 96.6th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,284
Rent / wk
$560
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$969
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
12
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.9%
Couples, no children
936
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the defining industry at 29.1% of employed residents (117 workers), a share well above state and national norms and the primary reason household incomes rank in the 96.6th percentile. Education follows at 11.2% and Healthcare at 8.0%, while Professional/Tech and Other Services each account for 7.2%. By occupation, Managers lead at 117 workers and Clerical/Admin at 99, reflecting a mix of trade business owners and support roles. The unemployment rate is 2.3%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 63.7%. Participation at 57.1% is moderate, in part because 231 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the rural setting and family-oriented household structure.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
477
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.3%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
11.8%
Dwellings
305
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in Cattai: 93.1% of residents drive to work, compared to a far lower share nationally, and public transport data is not reported, indicating negligible service coverage. Walking and cycling account for 2.9% of journeys, likely reflecting local rural activity rather than commuting. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring towns such as Windsor, which is approximately 15 kilometres to the south-east. Crime statistics are not reported for Cattai, which is common for low-population rural localities. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 26.4% and rent-to-income at 19.5% both sit comfortably below stress benchmarks, and only 3.4% of residents (35 people) need daily assistance.
Drive
93.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cattai compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cattai a good suburb to live in?
Cattai suits buyers seeking large rural-residential properties within the Sydney basin. Household income ranks in the 96.6th percentile nationally, housing stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 26.4%, and 79% of residents stay year to year. The trade-off is near-total car dependency and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Cattai?
The PSI-derived median house price is $2,075,000 for 2024-2025. Recorded transaction data shows prices rose from $1,851,250 in 2024 to $2,225,000 in 2025, a 20.2% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,284, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.4%.
What schools are in Cattai?
No schools are recorded inside the Cattai suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically travel to neighbouring towns such as Windsor, roughly 15 kilometres away, where primary and secondary options are available. The local university qualification rate is 23.3%, which is 6.8 points below the national figure.
Is Cattai safe?
Specific crime statistics are not reported for Cattai, which is typical for low-population rural localities. As a proxy indicator, household income sits in the 96.6th percentile nationally and housing stress is absent, with mortgage-to-income at 26.4% and only 3.4% of the 1,077 residents needing daily assistance.
Is Cattai good for property investment?
The 20.2% price growth from $1,851,250 to $2,225,000 in a single year is the headline case for investors. However, only 10.0% of households rent, the weekly rent of $560 implies a yield of roughly 1.4% against the $2,075,000 median, and the vacancy rate is 3.7%. Returns depend heavily on capital growth rather than rental income.
How is Cattai's population changing?
The current population of 1,077 is spread across 22.7 km2 at a density of 47.4 people per km2, indicating a stable rural-residential community. Resident stability is high at 79.0% staying annually, with a 21.0% turnover rate. The average household size of 3.3 is 0.8 above the national figure, pointing to family-led growth rather than rapid in-migration.
How much development is happening in Cattai?
There were 22 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dwelling house additions and residential accommodation works. Activity is modest relative to the suburb's 22.7 km2 area, consistent with gradual estate improvements rather than new subdivision or medium-density development.
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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