Dalmeny
A median age of 59 puts Dalmeny 19 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest population profiles in coastal NSW. Yet only 19.7% of residents rent, while 54.7% own their home outright, a tenure pattern that reflects a long-settled, asset-rich base rather than a transient population. The 22.6% vacancy rate is the most telling signal: at 7.15 km2 with just 2,194 residents, many properties serve as holiday homes rather than permanent dwellings. Household income sits in the 17th percentile nationally, well below average, because most of the wealth is held in property rather than wages.
Population
2,194
Median Age
59.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,092/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Median House
$760K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $760,000 sits at a relative discount compared to Sydney coastal markets, but the local income base is shallow, with household weekly income of $1,092, in the 17th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 90.9% of dwellings, with apartments accounting for only 7.9%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 27.9%. Prices rose from $737,500 in 2024 to $780,000 in 2025, a 5.8% increase, suggesting the market has continued to move despite rising rates.
For Buyers
The median house price of $760,000 sits at a relative discount compared to Sydney coastal markets, but the local income base is shallow, with household weekly income of $1,092, in the 17th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 90.9% of dwellings, with apartments accounting for only 7.9%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 27.9%. Prices rose from $737,500 in 2024 to $780,000 in 2025, a 5.8% increase, suggesting the market has continued to move despite rising rates.
For Investors
Investors face a tension between low rental demand and solid capital growth. Only 19.7% of residents rent, which is lower than typical coastal towns, and weekly rent sits at $330, a modest return against a $760,000 median. The vacancy rate of 22.6% is high, largely because holiday home ownership concentrates stock outside the long-term rental market. Development activity recorded 34 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly alterations to existing dwellings rather than new supply. Price growth of 5.8% year-on-year from 2024 to 2025 supports the capital growth case, but gross rental yield remains thin, making this suburb more suited to owner-occupier or holiday asset strategies than yield-focused investing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
155
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+68.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national average, positioning Dalmeny firmly in the retirement and near-retirement segment. Overseas-born residents at 16.0% are 5.6 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (954), Irish (300) and Scottish (249). University qualifications reach 22.1%, which is 8 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the older cohort whose working years preceded the university expansion of recent decades. Average household size is 2.1, compared to the national 2.5, consistent with couples-without-children households, which make up 46.1% of all families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.9%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
7.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright owners at 54.7%, with mortgage holders at 25.7% and renters at 19.7%, a distribution consistent with a retirement-skewed population that has paid down debt. Separate houses make up 90.9% of dwellings, the highest tier, leaving apartments at just 7.9% and semi-detached homes at 1.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.2% of the stock, with 4-plus bedroom at 27.9%. The median house price moved from $737,500 in 2024 to $780,000 in 2025, a 5.8% gain. Rent-to-income sits at 30.2%, above the stress threshold, because the 330 per week rent is high relative to the 17th-percentile income base, pointing to renters who are financially stretched compared to the owner-occupier majority.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$564
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.6%
Unoccupied
246
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.1%
Couples, no children
1,466
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is by far the largest employing industry at 26.2% of the local workforce (121 workers), nearly double the next sector, reflecting the suburb's aging population requiring medical and aged care services. Education follows at 11.9% (55 workers) and Construction at 11.5% (53). By occupation, Professionals lead at 126 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service Workers at 109, which aligns with the healthcare dominance. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and full-time employment runs at 52.4%, but the participation rate of just 35.4% reflects the large retired population: 994 residents are not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $564 is below average nationally, a consequence of part-time and retired residents reducing the wage base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.4%
Part-time
43.6%
Participation
35.4%
Employed
641
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.1%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
16.0%
Dwellings
843
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 89.8% of residents drive to work or study, above the national average, because public transport options in this regional coastal location are limited. Walking and cycling account for 5.2% of journeys, a small but non-negligible share for a coastal suburb with beach access. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby towns for schooling. The need-for-assistance rate is 14.9%, covering 299 residents, which is elevated and directly tied to the older demographic, where 59 is the median age. Volunteering runs at 18.8%, slightly above most Australian suburbs, a pattern commonly seen in retirement communities where residents have time and community investment.
Drive
89.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dalmeny compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dalmeny a good suburb to live in?
Dalmeny suits retirees and lifestyle buyers more than young families. The median age is 59, which is 19 years above the national figure. With 54.7% of residents owning outright and a $760,000 median house price, it offers coastal living with a settled, low-turnover community. No schools operate within the suburb, and public transport is limited, with 89.8% of residents relying on cars.
What is the median house price in Dalmeny?
The median house price is $760,000, based on recent data. Prices rose from $737,500 in 2024 to $780,000 in 2025, a 5.8% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408 and weekly rent sits at $330. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Dalmeny?
No schools are recorded inside the Dalmeny suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Narooma or other Eurobodalla Shire towns. The local university qualification rate is 22.1%, which is 8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an older cohort rather than low educational attainment.
Is Dalmeny safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Dalmeny in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a low renter share of 19.7% and a resident stability rate of 79.8% who stayed at the same address over 5 years, both consistent with a settled, low-turnover community. The need-for-assistance rate of 14.9% reflects the older population rather than disadvantage.
Is Dalmeny good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Prices grew 5.8% from 2024 to 2025, supporting capital growth. However, weekly rent of $330 against a $760,000 median implies a thin gross yield, and the 22.6% vacancy rate signals significant holiday-home stock competing with long-term rentals. Only 19.7% of residents rent, limiting the permanent tenant pool.
How is Dalmeny's population changing?
Dalmeny has a population of 2,194 and a very stable resident base, with 79.8% staying at the same address over 5 years, which is higher than most Australian suburbs. The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national figure, and the household income sits in the 17th percentile nationally, both pointing to an aging, asset-wealthy but income-modest community.
How much development is happening in Dalmeny?
There were 34 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are alterations or additions to existing dwelling houses rather than new builds, which is consistent with a mature coastal suburb where owners upgrade rather than subdivide or develop new stock. The 22.6% vacancy rate suggests little pressure to add permanent dwellings.
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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