Dover Heights
At a $5,375,000 median house price and a household income in the 99.5th percentile nationally, Dover Heights occupies a tier that fewer than 1 in 200 Australian suburbs can match. The suburb covers just 0.95 km2 on the Sydney headland at a density of 4,269 residents per km2, yet feels owner-occupied: 43.8% of dwellings are held outright and only 19.8% are rented, which is well below the national renting share. University qualifications reach 67.3%, a figure 37.2 percentage points above the national average. Population is small at 4,044, median age 41, and 56% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, confirming the suburb's identity as a large-home, established-wealth enclave.
Population
4,044
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,877/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
87
Median House
$5.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $5,375,000 median house price places Dover Heights among the most expensive residential markets in Australia, far above both NSW and national medians. Price data shows a move from $3,851,000 in 2024 to $6,200,000 in 2025, a 61% jump in one year, though the short data window means this should be read as a market signal rather than a stable trend. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 66.5%, with 56% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers are almost always competing for large family homes on a scarce 0.95 km2 land area. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,333, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8%, which remains below the 30% stress threshold despite the enormous headline price because incomes sit in the 99.5th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 43.8% outnumber mortgage holders at 36.4%, indicating entrenched generational wealth rather than recent leveraged buying.
For Buyers
The $5,375,000 median house price places Dover Heights among the most expensive residential markets in Australia, far above both NSW and national medians. Price data shows a move from $3,851,000 in 2024 to $6,200,000 in 2025, a 61% jump in one year, though the short data window means this should be read as a market signal rather than a stable trend. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 66.5%, with 56% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers are almost always competing for large family homes on a scarce 0.95 km2 land area. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,333, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8%, which remains below the 30% stress threshold despite the enormous headline price because incomes sit in the 99.5th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 43.8% outnumber mortgage holders at 36.4%, indicating entrenched generational wealth rather than recent leveraged buying.
For Investors
A 19.8% renter share against a $5,375,000 median produces a gross yield that is very thin by any standard, with weekly rent of $798 implying under 0.8% annualised. The 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to most Sydney suburbs, reflecting the prestige segment's sensitivity to economic conditions and the limited renter pool at these price points. Development activity is modest but present, with 80 applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and new dwelling constructions consistent with a suburb renovating and rebuilding within existing footprints. Migration data shows overseas arrivals averaging 153 per year while internal migration runs at a net outflow of 141, leaving marginal natural growth. The investment case in Dover Heights depends almost entirely on long-term capital preservation and land value appreciation rather than rental yield or population-driven demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
456
Last 12 Months
87
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dover Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rose Bay Secondary College
7-12 · 1127 students
Kesser Torah College
K-12 · 484 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is exactly 1.0 year above the national figure, and the working-age share fell 2.1 points over the decade while the senior share rose 1.3 points, signalling a slow but steady aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents account for 42.6%, which is 21.0 percentage points above the national average, one of the more internationally diverse demographics in the Eastern Suburbs. Ancestry is led by English (816 residents), South African (513) and Irish (243), with Chinese (225) also notable. Judaism is the plurality religion with 2,017 residents, well above Christianity at 955, making Dover Heights one of the most distinctly Jewish communities in Australia. University qualifications at 67.3% run 37.2 points above the national figure. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 persons above national, consistent with the high share of large family homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.5%
Houses
10.8%
Townhouse
22.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily skewed toward ownership: 43.8% own outright and 36.4% carry a mortgage, leaving only 19.8% renting, a renter share that is well below both national and Sydney averages. This ownership concentration reflects how long-held much of the stock is, with large houses rather than investment-grade apartments making up the bulk. Separate houses account for 66.5% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes reach 56.0%, the highest bedroom-count profile typical of premium headland suburbs. Apartments are just 22.7% and semi-detached 10.8%, so detached house buyers face limited competing stock. Price history moved from $3,851,000 in 2024 to $6,200,000 in 2025, a 61% change across two data points. All four SEIFA indexes rank the suburb at decile 9 or 10, confirming structural advantage across education, occupation and economic resources.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,333
Rent / wk
$798
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,404
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
118
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.6%
Couples, no children
3,532
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce sits firmly in high-income professional sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 20.4% (313 workers), Healthcare follows at 18.7% (287) and Finance at 12.5% (192), with Education at 9.0% and Retail at 5.9%. By occupation, Professionals (819) and Managers (485) together account for the majority of employed residents. Unemployment is low at 3.5% and the full-time employment rate reaches 60.9%, though the participation rate of 57.0% is below what income levels might suggest, because 1,104 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the wealthy, partially retired demographic profile. Real income growth over the decade was 19.7%, above the rate of general price inflation. Dover Heights scores decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO, the top tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage and education-and-occupation combined.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
6,950
Unemployed
199
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
57.0%
Employed
1,771
Occupations
Top Industries
University
67.3%
Postgraduate
19.2%
Born Overseas
42.6%
Dwellings
1,308
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high: 87.2% of residents drive to work, compared to a much lower national average, while only 3.6% use public transport and 4.3% walk or cycle. This reflects the headland geography rather than a lack of amenity, as the suburb sits above Rose Bay and Bondi with limited bus routes. The suburb ranks decile 10 on IRSAD and IRSD, the top tier nationally, meaning residents face the least disadvantage of any decile. No schools are recorded inside the 0.95 km2 boundary, so families draw on institutions in adjacent suburbs. Volunteering is high at 23.1% of residents. Only 3.0% (117 people) need daily assistance, low for a median age of 41. Rent-to-income at 20.6% is below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 25.8% also sits below it, giving both tenants and owners financial headroom uncommon at this price tier.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.24%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedDover Heights is classified as an established suburb with slow growth: the annual rate is 0.24%, adding roughly 28 persons per year. The broader SA2 population reached 11,520 in 2025, a 6.7% increase over 10 years. Medium forecasts project the SA2 reaching approximately 11,661 by 2031, below 2% cumulative growth over the forecast horizon. The primary population driver is overseas migration at 153 net arrivals per year, which is partially offset by a net internal outflow of 141, meaning domestic residents leaving exceeds those arriving. The gentrification score is 10 (not gentrifying), because the suburb is already at peak SEIFA advantage with no further upward trajectory available. Affordability improved from 55.8% in 2011 to 49.3% in 2021, though at $5.375 million it remains accessible to only the top fraction of buyers nationally.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+153
Net Internal / yr
-141
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -141/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dover Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover Heights a good suburb to live in?
Dover Heights ranks decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 99.5th percentile. University qualifications reach 67.3%, which is 37.2 points above the national figure. The suburb is compact at 0.95 km2 with 4,044 residents, high car dependence at 87.2%, and a $5,375,000 median house price that limits entry to a narrow buyer pool.
What is the median house price in Dover Heights?
The median house price is $5,375,000, among the highest in Australia. Price data moved from $3,851,000 in 2024 to $6,200,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $798 and monthly mortgage repayments average $4,333, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% due to the suburb's 99.5th-percentile household incomes.
What schools are in Dover Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the 0.95 km2 Dover Heights boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Rose Bay and Bondi. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 67.3%, which is 37.2 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Dover Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dover Heights in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, and only 3.0% of its 4,044 residents (117 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a very low-disadvantage profile.
Is Dover Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $798 against a $5,375,000 median implies a gross yield below 0.8%, and the 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to most Sydney suburbs. Net overseas migration of 153 per year supports demand but internal outflow of 141 offsets it. The investment case rests on long-run capital preservation rather than rental income.
How is Dover Heights's population changing?
The broader SA2 population was 11,520 in 2025, up 6.7% over 10 years, with annual growth at 0.24%. Medium forecasts project approximately 11,661 residents by 2031. Overseas migration drives growth at 153 net arrivals per year, partly offset by a net internal outflow of 141 residents annually.
What languages are spoken in Dover Heights?
About 42.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 21.0 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Russian (63 speakers), Mandarin (46), Greek (40), French (20) and Italian (17). South African ancestry (513 residents) is the third-largest group after English and Other.
How much development is happening in Dover Heights?
There were 80 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are new dwelling constructions or alterations to existing houses, consistent with a suburb rebuilding its prestige stock within a fixed 0.95 km2 boundary at a $5,375,000 median price point.
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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