Darling Point
Household income at the 98.2nd percentile nationally makes Darling Point one of the wealthiest enclaves in Australia, yet the suburb's 21.4% vacancy rate and average household size of just 1.9 reveal a stock of apartments used selectively rather than continuously. The 0.67 km2 footprint holds 3,977 residents at a density of 5,931 per km2, with 87.5% of dwellings apartments. University qualifications reach 64.6%, which is 34.5 points above the national figure. The median age of 49 is 9 years older than the national median, and the senior share grew 3.4 points over the decade, pointing to an entrenched, aging resident base rather than a suburb in transition.
Population
3,977
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,219/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
67
Median House
$3.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $3,023,000 puts Darling Point among Sydney's most expensive suburbs. Prices moved from $3,000,000 in 2024 to $3,065,000 in 2025, a 2.2% rise over the year. Separate houses make up only 6.5% of dwellings, so buyers compete for very limited freestanding stock while apartments dominate at 87.5%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 43.0% and three-bedroom 35.8%, giving reasonable choice at the apartment tier but few large family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes rank in the 98.2nd percentile nationally. Outright owners at 44.6% far outnumber mortgage holders at 19.1%, a pattern consistent with long-held, debt-free wealth rather than recent buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $3,023,000 puts Darling Point among Sydney's most expensive suburbs. Prices moved from $3,000,000 in 2024 to $3,065,000 in 2025, a 2.2% rise over the year. Separate houses make up only 6.5% of dwellings, so buyers compete for very limited freestanding stock while apartments dominate at 87.5%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 43.0% and three-bedroom 35.8%, giving reasonable choice at the apartment tier but few large family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes rank in the 98.2nd percentile nationally. Outright owners at 44.6% far outnumber mortgage holders at 19.1%, a pattern consistent with long-held, debt-free wealth rather than recent buyers.
For Investors
The 36.3% renter share provides a tenant pool, but the numbers require scrutiny. Against the $3,023,000 median, weekly rent of $825 implies a gross yield near 1.4%, very low even by eastern Sydney standards. The 21.4% vacancy rate is the most significant caution signal, indicating meaningful oversupply in the apartment segment that makes up 87.5% of stock. Overseas migration adds 234 residents per year, which is the main positive demand driver, while net internal outflow removes 217 annually, leaving thin net growth. Development activity is moderate at 62 applications in 12 months. Annual population growth sits at negative 0.07% and medium forecasts hold the population near 10,280 through 2031, so demand expansion is limited. The investment case rests on capital preservation and the premium location rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
367
Last 12 Months
67
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national figure and is trending older, with the senior share rising 3.4 points and the working-age share falling 3.3 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 36.4%, which is 14.8 points above the national figure, with Mandarin (36 speakers), Italian (26) and German (22) the main non-English languages. Ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,441), Irish (538) and Scottish (442). University qualifications at 64.6% run 34.5 points above national, placing the suburb among the most educated in Australia. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below national, consistent with the dominant couples-without-children profile: 47.8% of families have no children at home. Judaism (416 residents) is a notable second religion behind Christianity (1,743).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
6.5%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
87.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward established owners: 44.6% own outright, 19.1% carry a mortgage and 36.3% rent. Outright owners more than doubling mortgage holders reflects long-held, debt-free wealth typical of ultra-premium suburbs. The stock is 87.5% apartments and only 6.5% separate houses, which elevates detached prices through extreme scarcity. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 43.0%, three-bedroom at 35.8% and 4-plus at 9.3%, with studios and one-bedders making up 11.8%. The median house price rose from $3,000,000 in 2024 to $3,065,000 in 2025, a 2.2% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 28.0% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 25.6% also stays comfortable, both below the stress thresholds despite a median well above Sydney-wide averages.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,900
Rent / wk
$825
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,799
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.4%
Unoccupied
497
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.8%
Couples, no children
2,563
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in the highest-paying knowledge sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 24.6% (400 workers), Finance at 16.0% (261) and Healthcare at 10.9% (177), with Real Estate at 6.8% and Education at 6.7%. By occupation, Professionals (885) and Managers (547) together dominate the employed base, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile 10 score for education and occupation advantage. Unemployment is low at 3.7% and the full-time employment rate is 70.5%. Participation at 54.6% is below what income levels alone would suggest, because the aging profile leaves 1,228 residents not in the labour force. The IER decile of 5 sits below the decile 10 readings on IRSD, IRSAD and IEO, because the 36.3% renter share and 19.1% mortgage rate depress aggregate household wealth measures compared to fully owned outer-ring suburbs.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
6,642
Unemployed
166
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.5%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
1,869
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.6%
Postgraduate
20.0%
Born Overseas
36.4%
Dwellings
1,824
Transport to Work
Active transport usage is notably high: 14.8% walk or cycle to work, above most Sydney suburbs at this income tier, while 8.2% use public transport and 70.1% drive. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on both IRSD and IRSAD, meaning virtually no residents face relative disadvantage. Only 3.6% of residents (136 people) need daily assistance, low relative to the older median age of 49. Volunteering reaches 20.6% of residents, above typical rates. No schools are recorded within the 0.67 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The 21.4% vacancy rate and high-density apartment setting mean the suburb suits residents who value premium access and low-maintenance living over family infrastructure.
Drive
70.1%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
14.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.07%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedDarling Point is in slow decline: annual population growth is negative at 0.07% and the medium forecast holds the SA2 population near 10,280 through 2031, down from a pre-COVID level of 10,605. The SA2 population has recovered only 2.1% from the COVID low of 10,051, still 3.2% below pre-COVID levels. Net internal outflow of 217 per year reflects residents leaving for other parts of Australia, offset by overseas inflow of 234, leaving virtually no net growth. The gentrification score of 10 and the not gentrifying classification confirm the suburb is already at maximum advantage with no structural shift occurring. Real income growth of 11.4% over the decade and a 25.2% rent increase over the period indicate wealth accumulation at the asset level rather than population-driven demand growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+234
Net Internal / yr
-217
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -217/yr, Strong overseas inflow +234/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Darling Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darling Point a good suburb to live in?
Darling Point ranks decile 10 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 98.2nd percentile. University qualifications reach 64.6%, which is 34.5 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a $3,023,000 median house price, a 21.4% vacancy rate in the apartment-dominated stock, and no schools within the 0.67 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Darling Point?
The median house price is $3,023,000, among Sydney's highest. Prices rose 2.2% from $3,000,000 in 2024 to $3,065,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $825 and monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0%, below the standard 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Darling Point?
No schools are recorded inside the 0.67 km2 Darling Point boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 64.6% holding university qualifications, which is 34.5 points above the national figure.
Is Darling Point safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Darling Point in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, and only 3.6% of its 3,977 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a very low-disadvantage environment.
Is Darling Point good for property investment?
Rent of $825 per week against a $3,023,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.4%, very low by any standard. The 21.4% vacancy rate signals real oversupply in apartments, which make up 87.5% of stock. Net overseas migration of 234 per year supports demand, but annual population growth is negative 0.07%, so returns depend on capital growth rather than occupancy expansion.
How is Darling Point's population changing?
Population growth is negative at 0.07% annually. The SA2 population sits at around 10,265, still below the pre-COVID level of 10,605 after a 5.2% dip. Medium forecasts hold the population near 10,280 through 2031. Net internal outflow of 217 per year is offset by overseas inflow of 234, leaving marginal net movement.
What languages are spoken in Darling Point?
About 36.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 14.8 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (36 speakers), Italian (26), German (22), Cantonese (19) and French (15) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a small but internationally diverse resident mix.
How much development is happening in Darling Point?
There were 62 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent applications include demolition and new residential flat building, shop-top housing modifications and dwelling alterations, consistent with an established premium suburb renewing existing stock rather than adding significant new 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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