Centennial Park
At just 2.23 square kilometres, Centennial Park packs a population density of 998 residents per km2 and a household income sitting in the 82nd percentile nationally, yet 56.1% of residents rent rather than own. That split tells a clear story: the suburb attracts high-earning professionals who prefer apartment living near the park precinct rather than building long-term equity. University qualifications reach 63.5% of residents, which is 33.4 percentage points above the national figure. The median age of 36 is 4 years younger than the national average, and 80.8% of dwellings are apartments, making this one of the most education-dense, renter-majority suburbs in inner Sydney.
Population
2,225
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,154/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$945K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Centennial Park is $945,000, though this figure reflects a predominantly apartment market where 80.8% of dwellings are flats and only 9.1% are separate houses. Price history shows a significant correction: the recorded median was $1,105,000 in 2024 and fell to $852,500 in 2025, a 22.9% decline from peak. Buyers competing for the scarce 9.1% of detached houses face very tight supply. Two-bedroom apartments dominate at 39.1% of stock, with one-bedroom and studio units at 37.7%, so larger family homes are rare. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,466, representing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold, though household income in the 82nd percentile supports serviceability. Outright owners account for just 22.2% of households.
For Buyers
The median house price in Centennial Park is $945,000, though this figure reflects a predominantly apartment market where 80.8% of dwellings are flats and only 9.1% are separate houses. Price history shows a significant correction: the recorded median was $1,105,000 in 2024 and fell to $852,500 in 2025, a 22.9% decline from peak. Buyers competing for the scarce 9.1% of detached houses face very tight supply. Two-bedroom apartments dominate at 39.1% of stock, with one-bedroom and studio units at 37.7%, so larger family homes are rare. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,466, representing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold, though household income in the 82nd percentile supports serviceability. Outright owners account for just 22.2% of households.
For Investors
A 56.1% renter share is the defining investment signal for Centennial Park, well above the NSW average and consistent with the suburb's professional transient workforce. Weekly rent sits at $500, though the 13.3% vacancy rate is notably elevated and signals an oversupplied rental market, particularly in the 80.8% apartment segment. Investors should weigh this carefully: strong renter demand exists in absolute terms, but high vacancy compresses effective yields. Development activity is moderate at 12 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new supply. The suburb's 82nd-percentile household income base and 63.5% university-qualified workforce point to stable tenant quality. Gross yield at $500 per week against a $945,000 median implies roughly 2.7%, low compared to outer suburbs but in line with inner-Sydney norms.
Development Activity
Total DAs
85
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, reflecting a suburb that skews toward younger working professionals. University qualifications at 63.5% sit 33.4 percentage points above the national average, one of the highest concentrations in NSW. Overseas-born residents make up 35.0% of the population, which is 13.4 points above national. The ancestry profile leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (766), Irish (329) and Scottish (243), with Chinese at 118. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, consistent with the high share of couples without children (36.1% of families) and single-person apartments. The turnover rate of 36.8% confirms this is a transitional suburb where residents move frequently, rather than settling long-term.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
9.1%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
80.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments account for 80.8% of dwellings, semi-detached properties 10.1%, and separate houses just 9.1%, making detached housing genuinely scarce at Centennial Park. The bedroom profile reflects small-household living: one-bedroom and studio units are 37.7% of stock, two-bedrooms 39.1%, and three-bedroom-plus homes only 23.3% combined. Tenure is renter-dominated: 56.1% rent, 21.7% carry a mortgage, and 22.2% own outright, with the outright-owner share notably lower than higher-priced neighbouring suburbs. The vacancy rate of 13.3% indicates meaningful oversupply relative to demand, which moderates rent growth despite a strong income base. Rent-to-income at 23.2% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds, a function of the 82nd-percentile household income rather than low housing costs.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,466
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,415
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.3%
Unoccupied
165
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples, no children
1,337
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services employ 20.0% of the local workforce (221 workers), the largest sector, followed by Healthcare at 12.9% (143), Finance at 10.6% (117), Education at 9.2% (102) and Public Administration at 6.3% (70). By occupation, Professionals (550) and Managers (282) dominate, accounting for the bulk of the 1,248 employed residents. The full-time employment rate is 71.6% and unemployment sits at 3.9%, slightly above the national average but low in absolute terms. The participation rate of 66.5% is moderate, with 438 residents not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $1,415 and family weekly income of $3,371 position Centennial Park households at the 82nd percentile nationally, driven by the high concentration of knowledge-economy workers.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.6%
Part-time
24.5%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
1,248
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.5%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
35.0%
Dwellings
1,076
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling are meaningfully high at 19.5% of commuters, reflecting the suburb's compact footprint and adjacency to Centennial Parklands. Car dependency at 63.0% is moderate for Sydney, and public transport use of 11.9% is below typical inner-Sydney levels, likely because the park precinct limits bus routes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Rent-to-income at 23.2% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants despite the inner-Sydney location. The need-for-assistance rate of 2.4% (50 residents) is low, and volunteering at 17.9% is above average nationally. The 35.0% overseas-born population, 13.4 points above national, adds international character to what is a compact, professionally oriented community adjacent to one of Sydney's most significant green spaces.
Drive
63.0%
Public Transport
11.9%
Walk / Cycle
19.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Centennial Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Centennial Park a good suburb to live in?
Centennial Park suits professionals and couples without children well. Household income sits in the 82nd percentile nationally and university qualifications reach 63.5%, which is 33.4 points above the national figure. The trade-offs are a 13.3% vacancy rate in the apartment-heavy rental market and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Centennial Park?
The median house price is $945,000 based on PSI-derived data. The recorded median fell from $1,105,000 in 2024 to $852,500 in 2025, a 22.9% decline from peak. Weekly rent averages $500 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,466.
What schools are in Centennial Park?
No schools are recorded within the Centennial Park suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, the suburb has a highly educated resident base with 63.5% holding university qualifications, which is 33.4 percentage points above the national average.
Is Centennial Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Centennial Park in this dataset. As a proxy, only 2.4% of residents (50 people) require daily assistance, and the suburb's household income at the 82nd percentile nationally is associated with lower disadvantage. The 17.9% volunteering rate also reflects community engagement above the national average.
Is Centennial Park good for property investment?
The 56.1% renter share provides a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $500 against a $945,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 2.7%, which is below average compared to outer Sydney suburbs. The 13.3% vacancy rate signals oversupply in the apartment segment, which makes up 80.8% of dwellings and is the key risk for investors.
How is Centennial Park's population changing?
The current population is 2,225 in a fixed 2.23 km2 boundary, leaving limited room for growth. The suburb has a high annual turnover rate of 36.8%, meaning roughly one in three residents moves each year, typical of a renter-majority inner-Sydney suburb. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national, consistent with a young, mobile professional population.
What languages are spoken in Centennial Park?
Around 35.0% of Centennial Park residents were born overseas, which is 13.4 percentage points above the national figure. Portuguese (20 speakers), Greek (12) and French (11) are the most common non-English languages recorded. English dominates, with an Anglo-Celtic ancestry base led by English (766), Irish (329) and Scottish (243) residents.
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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