Drummoyne
Apartment living defines Drummoyne more than many buyers expect: 57.2% of homes are apartments and only 30.5% are separate houses. The suburb packs 12,011 residents into 2.31 sq km, giving it a high 5,199.3 people per sq km, above many inner west neighbours such as Russell Lea and Five Dock. Household income sits in the 96th percentile, which helps explain resilient premium demand despite the latest house median of $1,672,500 and a short price pullback from the 2024 peak.
Population
12,011
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,776/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
115
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are paying for harbour-side access and established amenity, with a median house price of $1,672,500 and a 2025 latest price of $1,600,000, down 10.4% from the 2024 peak. The housing mix is more compact than average because apartments make up 57.2% of stock, while 2 bedroom homes account for 41.3%. Mortgage payments absorb 26.6% of income, below common stress thresholds, helped by household income in the 96th percentile.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for harbour-side access and established amenity, with a median house price of $1,672,500 and a 2025 latest price of $1,600,000, down 10.4% from the 2024 peak. The housing mix is more compact than average because apartments make up 57.2% of stock, while 2 bedroom homes account for 41.3%. Mortgage payments absorb 26.6% of income, below common stress thresholds, helped by household income in the 96th percentile.
For Investors
Investors get a large renter base, with 36.6% of households renting and median rent at $600 per week. The 10.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market, so tenant selection and pricing matter more than in lower-vacancy suburbs. Development activity is also elevated, with 106 applications in 12 months, because retail and mixed-use renewal around established corridors keeps supply and amenity changing. Rent growth of 25.0% in the forecast shift points to demand, but vacancy is the key risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
679
Last 12 Months
115
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-18.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Drummoyne iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mark's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 310 students
Drummoyne Public School
K-6 · 427 students
Demographics
Drummoyne skews older, affluent and highly educated. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national comparison, and 56.5% of residents have a university qualification, 26.4 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 30.1%, 8.5 points higher than national, with Italian, Greek and Mandarin among recorded languages. English ancestry leads at 3,500 people, while Italian ancestry at 1,300 helps distinguish Drummoyne from nearby Russell Lea and Five Dock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
30.5%
Houses
10.9%
Townhouse
57.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Drummoyne's housing market is premium but mixed by dwelling type. Houses recorded a 2024 median of $1,785,000 before easing to $1,600,000 in 2025, a 10.4% fall from peak to latest. Ownership is split, with 34.3% owned outright, 29.1% mortgaged and 36.6% rented, compared with a more owner-heavy profile in many lower-density suburbs. The 57.2% apartment share and 41.3% 2 bedroom share keep more entry points below freestanding houses, while 4 plus bedroom homes are only 18.3% of stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,200
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,388
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
599
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.6%
Couples, no children
9,174
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is weighted to high-skill, higher-income jobs. Professional and tech roles account for 17.5% of industry employment, followed by healthcare at 13.5%, finance at 12.0%, education at 9.5% and construction at 7.4%. Occupations reinforce the pattern, with 2,454 professionals and 1,507 managers. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, while full-time work is 71.0% of employed residents, supporting incomes above the national median. SEIFA is strong across the board, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 10 and IER in decile 8.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
11,398
Unemployed
251
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
25.6%
Participation
60.2%
Employed
5,892
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.5%
Postgraduate
16.8%
Born Overseas
30.1%
Dwellings
4,909
Transport to Work
Drummoyne suits households wanting inner-harbour access with compact local services. Two local primary schools anchor the education offer: St Mark's Catholic Primary School has ICSEA 1156 and 310 enrolments, while Drummoyne Public School has ICSEA 1137 and 427 enrolments, an ICSEA range above the national average benchmark of 1000. Transport remains car-led, with 79.6% driving to work, compared with 7.7% using public transport and 8.0% walking or cycling. Safety rates are not available, but IRSAD decile 10 signals strong overall advantage.
Drive
79.6%
Public Transport
7.7%
Walk / Cycle
8.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.26%/yr
(+50 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow rather than speculative. The trend forecast is 0.26% per year, equal to about 50 extra people annually, below faster fringe and renewal markets. Migration is the main engine because overseas migration adds an average 244 people a year while internal migration subtracts 124 a year. The medium population path rises from 19,083 in 2026 to 19,335 in 2031. Gentrification is labelled Early signs with a score of 20, so change is more likely to come from gradual turnover and redevelopment than a rapid suburb-wide reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+244
Net Internal / yr
-124
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -124/yr, Strong overseas inflow +244/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Drummoyne compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drummoyne a good suburb to live in?
Yes, for buyers who value income-rich, established inner-harbour living. Household income sits in the 96th percentile, apartments make up 57.2% of homes, and the median age is 42, above the national comparison.
What is the median house price in Drummoyne?
The median house price is $1,672,500, with the latest recorded 2025 price at $1,600,000. That is 10.4% below the 2024 peak of $1,785,000, so recent pricing is lower than the short-term high.
What schools are in Drummoyne?
Drummoyne has 2 local primary schools: St Mark's Catholic Primary School with ICSEA 1156 and 310 enrolments, and Drummoyne Public School with ICSEA 1137 and 427 enrolments.
Is Drummoyne safe?
A suburb crime rate is not available here, so safety should be checked against current NSW crime maps. Socio-economic indicators are strong, with IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10, both above average.
Is Drummoyne good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking premium tenants, with 36.6% renting and median rent at $600 per week. The caution is vacancy at 10.8%, higher than a tight market, so rental pricing matters.
How is Drummoyne's population changing?
Growth is modest. The forecast trend is 0.26% a year, or about 50 people annually, with the medium population path rising from 19,083 in 2026 to 19,335 in 2031.
What languages are spoken in Drummoyne?
English is dominant, but 30.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 8.5 percentage points above the national comparison. Recorded languages include Italian 179, Greek 172 and Mandarin 83 speakers.
How much development is happening in Drummoyne?
Development activity is high, with 106 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent samples include retail premises, neighbourhood shops and alterations, indicating more renewal than a quiet low-change suburb.
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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