Drummoyne
Drummoyne's standout profile is its combination of high density, apartment living and affluent households. The suburb has 12,011 residents across 2.31 square kilometres, creating a density of 5,199.3 people per square kilometre. Household income sits at the 96.0 percentile, well above the national midpoint, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. Apartments account for 57.2% of homes and annual growth is only 0.26%, reinforcing its established inner-west character. Compared with nearby Five Dock and Balmain, Drummoyne provides a more compact, apartment-heavy housing choice.
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
126
Homebuyers in Drummoyne are choosing between a strongly apartment-led market and a smaller supply of houses. Apartments represent 57.2% of dwellings, compared with 30.5% separate houses and 10.9% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties account for 41.3% of homes, followed by 3-bedroom dwellings at 34.0%, making the suburb more suited to singles, couples and smaller families than buyers seeking large blocks. A monthly mortgage figure of $3,200 equates to 26.6% of household income, while rent of $600 per week is 21.6% of income. Compared with detached-house markets, buyers should place extra weight on strata fees, parking and building condition.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Drummoyne are choosing between a strongly apartment-led market and a smaller supply of houses. Apartments represent 57.2% of dwellings, compared with 30.5% separate houses and 10.9% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties account for 41.3% of homes, followed by 3-bedroom dwellings at 34.0%, making the suburb more suited to singles, couples and smaller families than buyers seeking large blocks. A monthly mortgage figure of $3,200 equates to 26.6% of household income, while rent of $600 per week is 21.6% of income. Compared with detached-house markets, buyers should place extra weight on strata fees, parking and building condition.
For Investors
Drummoyne has a sizeable rental market, with 36.1% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent at $600. The 10.8% vacancy rate is high compared with tightly held owner-occupier markets, so landlords need to price accurately and compete on presentation, parking and transport access. Development activity is also notable, with 126 applications recorded over 12 months, although the examples include demolition and shop alterations rather than a stated number of new dwellings. Rent growth of 25.0% supports the income case, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Compared with slower-demand established suburbs, those factors support rental depth, but high vacancy can increase letting risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
716
Last 12 Months
126
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Drummoyne
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Drummoyne is older and more university educated than Australia overall. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national figure, while 56.5% of residents have university qualifications, 26.4 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 30.1%, or 8.5 points above the national share. Average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure, helping explain the strong apartment and two-bedroom profile. English ancestry counts 3,500 people, Irish 1,631, Italian 1,300 and Scottish 1,092. Compared with nearby family-oriented parts of the inner west, Drummoyne's smaller households and professional education profile are more pronounced.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
30.5%
Houses
10.9%
Townhouse
57.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Drummoyne's housing stock is compact and apartment-heavy, with 57.2% apartments, 30.5% separate houses and 10.9% semi-detached dwellings. Two-bedroom homes make up 41.3% of the market, while 3-bedroom properties account for 34.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 18.3%. Tenure is divided between 33.8% outright ownership, 28.6% mortgages and 36.1% renting. Mortgage repayments represent 26.6% of household income and rent represents 21.6%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with detached-house suburbs, the mix gives buyers more lower-maintenance choices but also makes strata levies, shared facilities and building quality important parts of the housing decision.
Mortgage / mo
$3,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$910
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,413 · units $860
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
40.2%
Couples with children
44.7%
Couples, no children
13.2%
Single parent
3,360
Total families
Economy & Employment
Drummoyne's economy is supported by professional services and a highly skilled workforce. Professional and technology industries employ 897 people, or 17.5%, followed by healthcare at 690, finance at 617, education at 485 and construction at 380. The largest occupation groups are professionals with 2,454 workers and managers with 1,507. Household income is $2,776 per week, at the 96.0 percentile, while unemployment is 3.1% and labour-force participation is 65.9%. SEIFA results are strong, with IEO decile 10, IER decile 8, IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10. The IER result sits below the other three deciles, indicating resources are strong but less exceptional than education, occupation and broad advantage. Compared with the national position, the suburb is substantially more affluent and professional.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
6,680
Unemployed
208
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
26.4%
Participation
65.9%
Employed
6,472
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.5%
Postgraduate
16.8%
Born Overseas
30.1%
Dwellings
4,909
Transport to Work
Drummoyne suits residents who value an established inner-west setting and flexible working patterns. Working from home is reported by 60.8% of residents, while 31.2% drive a car, 3.0% use public transport and 3.1% walk or cycle to work. The suburb contains 1 government primary school, Drummoyne Public School, so families should check enrolment zones and nearby secondary options against the exact address. An IRSAD decile of 10 places socioeconomic advantage above the national position, supported by household income at the 96.0 percentile. Compared with more car-dependent outer suburbs, the dense 2.31 square kilometre layout supports shorter local trips, although apartment living and school capacity remain practical considerations.
Drive
31.2%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
60.8%
Population Forecast
+0.26%/yr
(+50 people/yr)
EstablishedDrummoyne is tracking as a slow-growth, established suburb rather than an expansion corridor. The annual trend is 0.26%, while population change across the wider area is 5.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, and the trajectory is classified as Mixed. Rents have grown by 25.0%, which can attract investor attention but may also reflect changing affordability. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 20 in the primary measure and 30 in the broader shift measure. The area also recovered from a COVID dip of 3.0%, followed by 3.1% recovery. Compared with faster-growing outer areas, limited land and established housing keep future change gradual.
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?
Drummoyne can suit residents seeking an affluent, compact inner-west suburb with strong work-from-home capacity. It has 12,011 residents, a median age of 42, 60.8% working from home and an IRSAD decile of 10. Compared with outer suburbs, apartment living and limited detached housing are more prominent.
What is the median house price in Drummoyne?
A dependable median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from the $3,200 monthly mortgage figure. Drummoyne is 30.5% separate houses and 57.2% apartments, so a blended suburb figure can mislead buyers comparing unlike dwellings. Compare recent houses with similar land, condition and bedroom count.
What schools are in Drummoyne?
Drummoyne Public School is a government primary school within the suburb. Families should check the exact enrolment zone, intake arrangements and nearby secondary options because boundaries can cross suburb lines. With 1 local school identified, school access may differ depending on the property's street and year level.
Is Drummoyne safe?
Use current NSW Police incident information and inspect the exact street before deciding, as safety can vary between busy roads, apartment corridors and quieter residential areas. Drummoyne covers 2.31 square kilometres and has a density of 5,199.3 people per square kilometre, so local conditions matter more than a broad suburb label.
Is Drummoyne good for property investment?
Drummoyne has investment supports including 36.1% renting, $600 weekly rent, 25.0% rent growth and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. However, the 10.8% vacancy rate is high compared with tightly held markets, and 126 development applications in 12 months may add competition. Property quality and pricing remain important.
How is Drummoyne's population changing?
Drummoyne has 12,011 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 5.2% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.26% and overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification remains at the Early signs stage with a score of 20, indicating gradual rather than rapid change.
What languages are spoken in Drummoyne?
Italian is spoken by 179 residents, followed by Greek at 172, Mandarin at 83, Arabic at 80 and Cantonese at 78. Overseas-born residents represent 30.1% of the population, which is 8.5 percentage points above the national share. Compared with less internationally connected suburbs, language needs may be more varied.
Is Drummoyne seeing much development?
Development activity is notable, with 126 applications recorded over 12 months. Examples include demolition and alterations or additions to shops, although no dwelling totals are provided. Compared with a quiet established suburb, this level of application activity suggests ongoing property turnover and renewal, but buyers should assess each site's planning controls.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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