Clovelly
A $3,325,000 median house price sits alongside a stock that is only 25.0% separate houses, and the two facts explain each other. Across just 0.79 km2, Clovelly packs 6,218 residents per km2, with apartments at 46.3% and semi-detached terraces at 26.3% of dwellings, so detached homes are scarce and bid up. Household income reaches the 99.0th percentile nationally and the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSAD, IEO and IRSD indexes, the top advantage tier on three of the four SEIFA measures. University qualifications hit 67.6%, which is 37.5 points above the national figure, and the median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national, a younger and more affluent profile than most premium coastal pockets.
Population
4,887
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,474/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
68
Median House
$3.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $3,325,000 median ranks Clovelly among Sydney's dearest markets, and prices rose 7.4% from $3,227,500 in 2024 to $3,465,000 in 2025. Buyers chasing a freestanding home face thin supply because separate houses are only 25.0% of stock, against 46.3% apartments and 26.3% semi-detached terraces. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 39.7%, three-bedroom sit at 26.6% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.3%, so larger family houses are the contested end of the market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,333, yet the mortgage-to-income ratio lands at 28.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes reach the 99.0th percentile. Outright owners (33.0%) outnumber mortgage holders (29.2%), a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent entrants.
For Buyers
The $3,325,000 median ranks Clovelly among Sydney's dearest markets, and prices rose 7.4% from $3,227,500 in 2024 to $3,465,000 in 2025. Buyers chasing a freestanding home face thin supply because separate houses are only 25.0% of stock, against 46.3% apartments and 26.3% semi-detached terraces. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 39.7%, three-bedroom sit at 26.6% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.3%, so larger family houses are the contested end of the market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,333, yet the mortgage-to-income ratio lands at 28.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes reach the 99.0th percentile. Outright owners (33.0%) outnumber mortgage holders (29.2%), a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent entrants.
For Investors
A 37.8% renter share and weekly rent of $700 give landlords a deep tenant pool, but the maths favours caution. Against the $3,325,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.1%, very low even by inner-Sydney standards, so the case rests on capital growth rather than income. The 9.3% vacancy rate reflects the apartment-heavy mix, which is 46.3% of dwellings. Demand support is one-sided: net overseas migration adds 516 residents a year while internal migration removes 600, leaving population growth at just 0.09% annually. Development activity is moderate at 64 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations and demolition or rebuild works rather than new supply, so stock stays tight. Rent grew 30.0% over the period, which props the investment thesis more than yield or volume do.
Development Activity
Total DAs
443
Last 12 Months
68
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-23.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clovelly iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 163 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, younger than most high-income coastal suburbs. University qualifications at 67.6% run 37.5 points above national, among the highest anywhere, and overseas-born residents reach 28.9%, which is 7.3 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,938), Irish (892) and Scottish (537), while the top non-English languages are French (37), Greek (31) and Italian (26), a small but international resident mix. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national average by 0.1, and couples with children (1,951) outnumber couples with no children (1,107 or 28.3% of families), consistent with the younger family-forming profile. Judaism (267 residents) is a notable second religion behind Christianity (1,862).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
25.0%
Houses
26.3%
Townhouse
46.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits three ways: 33.0% own outright, 29.2% carry a mortgage and 37.8% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free wealth rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is 46.3% apartments and 26.3% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at only 25.0%, which keeps detached-house prices elevated through scarcity. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 39.7% and three-bedroom 26.6%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are 25.3%. The median house price rose from $3,227,500 to $3,465,000 across 2024-2025, a 7.4% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 28.8% and rent-to-income at 20.1% both sit below the 30% stress line, a comfort that reflects how 99.0th-percentile incomes absorb even steep coastal prices.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,333
Rent / wk
$700
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,633
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
187
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.3%
Couples, no children
3,910
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in high-paying knowledge sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 22.2% (496 workers), Healthcare follows at 14.6% (325) and Finance at 10.9% (244), with Education at 8.8% and Construction at 6.6%. By occupation, Professionals (1,230) and Managers (652) account for the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.2% and the full-time employment rate is 71.0%, while participation reads 66.8%. Real incomes grew 14.8% over the decade. One anomaly stands out: the IER (economic resources) score sits at decile 7 against decile 10 on the other three SEIFA indexes, because the 37.8% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even where earned income is in the 99.0th percentile.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
14,688
Unemployed
317
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.0%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
66.8%
Employed
2,527
Occupations
Top Industries
University
67.6%
Postgraduate
20.8%
Born Overseas
28.9%
Dwellings
1,826
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high for a beachside suburb: 76.4% drive, above the national norm, while 7.7% take public transport and 11.8% walk or cycle, reflecting the limited rail access of the eastern beaches. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 19.9% and only 2.0% (94 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the younger median age of 37. Rent-to-income at 20.1% keeps tenants comfortable relative to the 30% stress line, though purchase costs are far steeper at a $3,325,000 median. No schools are recorded inside the 0.79 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the compact, high-density coastal setting.
Drive
76.4%
Public Transport
7.7%
Walk / Cycle
11.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.09%/yr
(+19 people/yr)
EstablishedClovelly is effectively flat: annual population growth registers 0.09%, about 19 people a year, and the 10-year change is just 5.0%, classifying it as an established, slow-growth suburb. Medium forecasts hold the population near 20,554 by 2031 across its wider SA2, barely above today, so little expansion is expected. The only positive driver is overseas migration at 516 a year, offset by net internal outflow of 600, which keeps natural growth thin. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 20, low, fitting a suburb already at decile 10 advantage with little room to climb. Affordability improved from 44.9% in 2011 to 41.4% in 2021, an improving trend, though it stays high relative to most markets.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+516
Net Internal / yr
-600
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -600/yr, Strong overseas inflow +516/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clovelly compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clovelly a good suburb to live in?
Clovelly ranks in decile 10 on the IRSAD, IEO and IRSD indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 99.0th percentile. University qualifications reach 67.6%, 37.5 points above national. The main trade-offs are a high $3,325,000 median house price and a 9.3% apartment vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Clovelly?
The median house price is $3,325,000, among Sydney's highest. Prices rose 7.4% from $3,227,500 in 2024 to $3,465,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $700 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $4,333, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, below the 30% stress line.
What schools are in Clovelly?
No schools are recorded inside the 0.79 km2 Clovelly boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 67.6%, which is 37.5 points above the national figure.
Is Clovelly safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Clovelly in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 2.0% of its 4,887 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Clovelly good for property investment?
Rent of $700 a week against a $3,325,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.1%, very low, and the 9.3% vacancy rate reflects an apartment-heavy mix. Net overseas migration of 516 a year supports demand, but 0.09% population growth means returns depend on capital growth rather than yield.
How is Clovelly's population changing?
Population growth is 0.09% annually, about 19 people a year, with a 5.0% rise over 10 years. The profile is an established, slow-growth suburb. Overseas migration adds 516 residents a year, offset by net internal outflow of 600, which keeps natural growth thin.
How much development is happening in Clovelly?
There were 64 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are alterations, demolition or rebuild works on existing dwellings rather than new supply, consistent with an established suburb at 0.09% annual population growth where separate houses are only 25.0% of stock.
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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