Chifley
A $2,663,000 median house price in a 1.06 km2 footprint places Chifley among Sydney's premium coastal pockets, yet the suburb's income profile tells a nuanced story. Household income sits at the 88.3rd percentile nationally, high but noticeably below what the price tag alone would suggest, which translates directly into a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.1%, above the standard stress threshold of 30%. The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, the workforce leans toward Professionals and Managers, and 36.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 6.8 percentage points higher than the national average. With 3,490 residents across just over a square kilometre, density sits at 3,303 per km2.
Population
3,490
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,311/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
45
Median House
$2.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $2,700,000 in 2025, up from $2,650,000 in 2024, a 1.9% gain in one year. Separate houses dominate at 58.6% of dwellings, higher than most inner-Sydney suburbs, and the bedroom split skews large: 43.5% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 34.8% have three, which means the typical purchase is a family-sized property at a premium price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,210, and with household income at the 88.3rd percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio lands at 32.1%, above the 30% stress line. Outright owners (34.2%) and mortgage holders (34.7%) are almost equally matched, suggesting a mix of long-established residents alongside recent buyers who entered at current price levels.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $2,700,000 in 2025, up from $2,650,000 in 2024, a 1.9% gain in one year. Separate houses dominate at 58.6% of dwellings, higher than most inner-Sydney suburbs, and the bedroom split skews large: 43.5% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 34.8% have three, which means the typical purchase is a family-sized property at a premium price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,210, and with household income at the 88.3rd percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio lands at 32.1%, above the 30% stress line. Outright owners (34.2%) and mortgage holders (34.7%) are almost equally matched, suggesting a mix of long-established residents alongside recent buyers who entered at current price levels.
For Investors
At $400 weekly rent against a $2,663,000 median, gross yield sits well below 1%, making Chifley a capital-growth play rather than an income story. The 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention, as it signals softer rental demand relative to supply. Overseas migration brings a net 43 residents a year while internal migration produces a net outflow of 29, leaving thin but positive population momentum at 0.65% annually. Development activity is meaningful, with 44 applications lodged in the past 12 months, predominantly alterations and subdivisions rather than new-supply additions, which keeps housing turnover limited. Rent grew 23.3% over the measured period, so income returns are improving even if yields remain low compared to the national average.
Development Activity
Total DAs
291
Last 12 Months
45
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Chifley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Matraville Sports High School
7-12 · 487 students
Demographics
Chifley's age profile centres on the 42-year median, 2 years above national, and the demographic shift over the decade shows a declining young-adult share (down 3.5 points) alongside a small rise in the senior share (up 1.6 points). Overseas-born residents make up 29.6%, which is 8 points above the national figure, and English (934), Irish (450) and Chinese (244) are the leading ancestry groups. University qualifications reach 36.9%, putting the suburb 6.8 percentage points above national. The average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the large-bedroom stock and a high proportion of couples with children (1,317 families in that category). Volunteering participation is 12.0% and the full-time employment rate among those in work is 62.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.6%
Houses
25.3%
Townhouse
16.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split almost evenly between outright owners (34.2%) and mortgage holders (34.7%), with renters at 31.1%, lower than many comparable coastal suburbs. The stock strongly favours separate houses at 58.6%, with semi-detached dwellings at 25.3% and apartments at 16.1%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 43.5% and three-bedroom homes 34.8%, so the median dwelling is a large family house, not a flat or terrace. The median price moved from $2,650,000 in 2024 to $2,700,000 in 2025, a 1.9% rise with a CAGR of 1.9% over the available period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,210 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.1% exceeds the stress threshold, reflecting the gap between income at the 88.3rd percentile and prices at a premium level.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,210
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$841
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
15.5%
Couples, no children
2,951
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education (14.9%, 162 workers), Construction (14.1%, 154) and Healthcare (13.7%, 149) are the three largest industries among employed residents, a distribution more occupationally mixed than many inner-Sydney premium areas. Professional/Tech follows at 10.5% and Public Admin at 7.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 372 workers and Managers follow with 274, together representing the majority of the employed workforce. Unemployment sits at 3.7%, below the national average, and 998 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 8 places the suburb in the top 30% nationally for advantage overall, while the IRSD decile of 6 for disadvantage indicates that a meaningful minority of residents face material constraints despite the suburb's premium property prices.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
1,603
Unemployed
59
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.8%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
53.3%
Employed
1,424
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.9%
Postgraduate
11.5%
Born Overseas
29.6%
Dwellings
1,155
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 81.7% drive to work, while 4.8% use public transport and 4.9% walk or cycle, consistent with a suburban coastal location that lacks heavy rail. The suburb holds IRSAD decile 8, placing it above the national median for combined advantage and disadvantage, though the IRSD decile of 6 suggests the population is more varied in material circumstances than the premium median price implies. Rent-to-income at 17.3% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, so renters here face less financial pressure than buyers. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.3% (176 residents), modest for the age profile. No schools are recorded inside the 1.06 km2 boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions, a common feature of compact coastal suburbs. Development activity of 44 applications in 12 months indicates ongoing property investment and renovation in the area.
Drive
81.7%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedChifley's population grew at 0.65% annually (18 persons per year), with medium forecasts projecting the population from roughly 2,785 in 2025 to 2,838 by 2031. The decade-long record shows a 7.6% population rise and a trajectory described as declining young, reflecting the 3.5-point fall in the young-adult share. The gentrification score sits at 15, classified as not gentrifying, because the suburb is already in a premium tier with limited scope for further price-driven demographic change. Real income growth of 12.2% over the decade and a 23.3% rent increase point to steady underlying demand. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals (net 43 per year) that more than offset internal outflow (net 29 per year), keeping population on a slow upward path rather than declining.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+43
Net Internal / yr
-29
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -5% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chifley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chifley a good suburb to live in?
Chifley ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 8 nationally, placing it in the upper tier for overall advantage. Household income sits at the 88.3rd percentile and the unemployment rate is 3.7%, below the national average. The main trade-offs are a $2,663,000 median house price and high car dependency, with only 4.8% of residents using public transport.
What is the median house price in Chifley?
The median house price is $2,663,000 (PSI derived, 2024-2025). Prices rose from $2,650,000 in 2024 to $2,700,000 in 2025, a 1.9% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,210, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.1%, above the standard 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Chifley?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.06 km2 Chifley boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with 36.9% holding university qualifications, which is 6.8 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Chifley safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Chifley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 8 nationally, placing it in the upper advantage tier, and the unemployment rate of 3.7% is below the national average, both factors associated with lower crime incidence in comparable suburbs.
Is Chifley good for property investment?
At $400 weekly rent against a $2,663,000 median, gross yield is below 1%, so the investment case rests on capital growth rather than income. Rent grew 23.3% over the measured period. The 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling softer rental demand. Overseas migration adds a net 43 residents a year, supporting long-run demand.
How is Chifley's population changing?
Population grows at 0.65% annually, adding about 18 people per year. The 10-year rise was 7.6%. Medium forecasts project growth from 2,785 in 2025 to around 2,838 by 2031. Overseas migration (net plus 43 per year) is the primary driver, offsetting a net internal outflow of 29 per year.
How much development is happening in Chifley?
There were 44 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivisions, demolitions and alterations to existing dwellings. This level of activity is meaningful for a 1.06 km2 suburb and is consistent with an established area where renovation and subdivision drive churn rather than new dwelling supply.
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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