Clontarf
At a median house price of $4,725,000, Clontarf sits among the most expensive suburbs in Australia, yet fewer than 1,800 people live in its 0.86 km2 footprint. Household income ranks in the 99.8th percentile nationally, and all four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, the top tier. The suburb is 94.9% separate houses, with 75.3% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, a profile that reflects generational, established wealth rather than recent speculation. The median resident age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and 55.7% of households own their home outright, well above state and national averages.
Population
1,746
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$4,609/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
46
Median House
$4.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $4,725,000 in 2025, up from $4,719,000 in 2024, placing Clontarf in a narrow tier of Sydney's ultra-premium market. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.9%, with 75.3% having four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $5,317, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the price point, because household incomes are in the 99.8th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 55.7% far outnumber mortgage holders at 36.6%, a sign that housing is held by long-term, debt-free residents rather than recent entrants. Only 7.8% of dwellings are rented, lower than most comparable prestige suburbs.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $4,725,000 in 2025, up from $4,719,000 in 2024, placing Clontarf in a narrow tier of Sydney's ultra-premium market. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.9%, with 75.3% having four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $5,317, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the price point, because household incomes are in the 99.8th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 55.7% far outnumber mortgage holders at 36.6%, a sign that housing is held by long-term, debt-free residents rather than recent entrants. Only 7.8% of dwellings are rented, lower than most comparable prestige suburbs.
For Investors
A 7.8% renter share and weekly rent of $1,250 generate a gross yield well under 2% against the $4,725,000 median, making income return minimal compared to lower-priced markets. The 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated relative to typical prestige suburbs, reflecting scarce rental stock and infrequent turnover. Development activity runs to 45 applications in 12 months, but samples show pool installations, retaining walls and dwelling alterations rather than new supply. Overseas migration adds a net 83 residents a year to the SA2 area. The investment case rests on capital preservation in a decile 10, supply-constrained pocket where price movement was just 0.1% year-on-year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
166
Last 12 Months
46
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+64.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and the senior share rose 4.0 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 34.7%, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (740), Irish (232) and Scottish (195), with Chinese ancestry at 111 the largest non-European group. University qualifications reach 68.0%, a figure 37.9 percentage points above the national rate. Average household size is 3.0, half a person above national, consistent with the family profile: 651 couples-with-children families compared to 360 couples without children. Volunteering at 22.2% is well above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.9%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure shows 55.7% own outright, 36.6% carry a mortgage and 7.8% rent, making Clontarf far more owner-occupied than state and national norms. Stock is 94.9% separate houses with semi-detached at 4.5% and no apartment presence. Four-or-more-bedroom dwellings dominate at 75.3%, consistent with large family homes in a 0.86 km2 boundary. Median price is $4,725,000, virtually unchanged from $4,719,000 the year prior, suggesting plateau rather than decline. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6% appears manageable given incomes in the 99.8th percentile nationally, and rent-to-income at 27.1% also stays below the 30% stress level.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$5,317
Rent / wk
$1,250
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,385
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
29
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples, no children
1,537
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce skews toward knowledge industries: Professional/Tech leads at 25.8% (167 workers), Finance at 14.5% (94) and Healthcare at 10.7% (69). By occupation, Professionals (337) and Managers (234) together make up the bulk of employed residents, consistent with a decile 10 IEO score. Unemployment is 4.1% and the full-time rate is 62.3%, though the participation rate of 56.3% is below what high incomes would suggest because 520 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older median age of 47. Real income growth of 8.6% over the decade shows wealth accumulation even from an already elevated base.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
4,636
Unemployed
173
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.3%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
56.3%
Employed
775
Occupations
Top Industries
University
68.0%
Postgraduate
19.5%
Born Overseas
34.7%
Dwellings
573
Transport to Work
Public transport use is low at 4.6%, while 83.8% commute by car, above the national average, reflecting the peninsula geography that limits rail and bus access. Walking and cycling account for 3.9% of commutes. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top national advantage tier, and decile 10 on all SEIFA indexes, meaning essentially no measurable deprivation. Crime data is not available for Clontarf in this dataset. Only 2.7% of residents (46 people) need daily assistance, low even given the median age of 47. No schools are recorded within the 0.86 km2 boundary, so families use neighbouring institutions.
Drive
83.8%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.55% annually, around 49 additional residents per year, and 6.4% over 10 years for this established, land-constrained suburb. The SA2 population reached 8,876 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 9,116 by 2031. Overseas migration drives most growth at a net 83 per year, above the 32 from internal migration. Gentrification is not occurring, appropriate for a suburb already at decile 10 across all SEIFA measures with no room to climb. Rent growth of 27.8% over the period reflects pricing power in a tiny rental pool. Turnover is low at 15.7%, meaning 84.3% of residents stayed, pointing to deeply rooted owner-occupiers.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+83
Net Internal / yr
+32
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clontarf compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clontarf a good suburb to live in?
Clontarf ranks decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top national tier for advantage, with household income in the 99.8th percentile. University qualifications reach 68.0%, which is 37.9 percentage points above the national rate. The main constraint is the $4,725,000 median house price, placing entry well out of reach for most buyers.
What is the median house price in Clontarf?
The median house price is $4,725,000 as of 2025, up marginally from $4,719,000 in 2024, a 0.1% change. Monthly mortgage repayments average $5,317 and weekly rent is $1,250. With household income in the 99.8th percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.6%.
What schools are in Clontarf?
No schools are recorded within the 0.86 km2 Clontarf boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is exceptionally well educated, with 68.0% holding university qualifications, which is 37.9 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Clontarf safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Clontarf in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, and only 2.7% of its 1,746 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a very low-disadvantage area.
Is Clontarf good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $1,250 against a $4,725,000 median implies a gross yield well below 2%, very low compared to broader markets. The vacancy rate is 4.9% and only 7.8% of dwellings are rented. Returns depend on long-run capital growth rather than yield, with price movement flat at 0.1% year-on-year.
How is Clontarf's population changing?
Population grows at 0.55% annually, adding about 49 residents per year. The 10-year growth rate is 6.4% and medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 9,116 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 83 per year, while internal migration contributes an additional 32.
What languages are spoken in Clontarf?
Around 34.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national average. Mandarin is the most recorded non-English language with 28 speakers. Ancestry data shows English, Irish, Scottish and Chinese as the four most common backgrounds among the 1,746 residents.
How much development is happening in Clontarf?
There were 45 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent samples include new structures with retaining walls and swimming pools, dwelling alterations and one complying development certificate for a new dwelling house, consistent with an established suburb upgrading existing large homes rather than adding density.
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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