NSW 2117 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Dundas

Nearly half of Dundas residents were born overseas, 47.3%, which runs 25.7 points above the national figure and reshapes the suburb's character around a Chinese-led migrant base. Chinese ancestry (1,207) is the largest group, ahead of English (918) and Korean (430), and Mandarin (314 speakers) tops the non-English languages. The 4,959 residents sit on a compact 1.39 km2 at 3,574 people per km2, yet the housing stays family-scaled: 52.1% are separate houses and 40.5% have three bedrooms. University qualifications reach 46.9%, 16.8 points above national, and the median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national, a younger and more educated profile than the metropolitan average.

Dundas urban fabric map

Population

4,959

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,962/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

31

Median House

$1.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

1.39 km²· 3,574.3 people/km²· Family income $2,188/wk

The median house price is $1,150,000, which buys a genuine family home here because 52.1% of dwellings are separate houses and apartments make up only 6.2%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.5% and 4-plus bedroom homes reach 35.1%, so the stock skews toward families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.4%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold and means buyers on the 73.8th percentile household income are not overextended. Tenure leans toward owner-occupiers: 37.7% hold a mortgage and 27.0% own outright, together 64.7% of households, well above the 35.3% who rent. For a buyer wanting a detached house within reach of Parramatta, the low apartment share and family-sized stock make Dundas a houses-first market rather than a unit play.

For Buyers

The median house price is $1,150,000, which buys a genuine family home here because 52.1% of dwellings are separate houses and apartments make up only 6.2%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.5% and 4-plus bedroom homes reach 35.1%, so the stock skews toward families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.4%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold and means buyers on the 73.8th percentile household income are not overextended. Tenure leans toward owner-occupiers: 37.7% hold a mortgage and 27.0% own outright, together 64.7% of households, well above the 35.3% who rent. For a buyer wanting a detached house within reach of Parramatta, the low apartment share and family-sized stock make Dundas a houses-first market rather than a unit play.

For Investors

Rental demand is solid without being dominant: 35.3% of households rent and weekly rent averages $428, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 21.8%, comfortably below stress levels. Against the $1,150,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards and typical of established Sydney middle-ring suburbs where capital growth carries returns. The 5.8% vacancy rate points to a balanced rental market rather than oversupply. Development is modest at 29 applications in 12 months, several being secondary dwellings and alterations rather than new estates, so investors face limited new competing stock. With a 20.6% turnover rate and 79.4% of residents staying put, tenant churn is lower than in high-density suburbs, which favours holding for steady occupancy over speculative flipping.

Development Activity

Total DAs

211

Last 12 Months

31

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-20.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Demolition
17
Subdivision
13
Renovation / Extension
12
Commercial / Industrial
6
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
6
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
4
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
New Dwelling
2

Schools in Dundas iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

St Patrick's Marist College

ICSEA 1089 Secondary Catholic

7-12 · 1070 students

Dundas Public School

ICSEA 1070 Primary Government

K-6 · 312 students

Demographics

The migrant profile defines Dundas: 47.3% were born overseas, 25.7 points above national, and Chinese ancestry leads at 1,207 residents, ahead of English at 918 and Korean at 430. Mandarin (314), Korean (197) and Cantonese (173) are the most spoken non-English languages, an East Asian concentration unusual even for western Sydney. University qualifications at 46.9% run 16.8 points above national, and the median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, so the suburb is younger and better educated than the average. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above national, consistent with the family-heavy makeup where couples with children (1,861 families) outnumber couples with no children (764) by more than two to one. Christianity (2,450) is the largest religion, with Islam (174) a smaller presence.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.7%
15-24
12.7%
25-44
30.2%
45-64
25.6%
65+
12.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.1%
2 bed
21.2%
3 bed
40.5%
4+ bed
35.1%

Dwelling Structure

52.1%

Houses

41.4%

Townhouse

6.2%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 27.0% Mortgage 37.7% Rent 35.3%

Tenure is owner-weighted: 37.7% carry a mortgage, 27.0% own outright and 35.3% rent, so 64.7% of households are owner-occupiers, higher than the renter share. The stock is overwhelmingly low-rise, with 52.1% separate houses and 41.4% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 6.2%, which keeps the suburb family-oriented and limits high-density turnover. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 40.5% and 4-plus bedroom homes 35.1%, while two-bedroom stock is 21.2%. The median house price reads $1,150,000, and a PSI-derived series shows a move from $990,000 in 2024 to $1,397,500 in 2025, though with only two quarters of data that swing should be read as indicative rather than a confirmed trend. Mortgage-to-income at 29.4% stays below the stress threshold, helped by household income in the 73.8th percentile.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,500

Rent / wk

$428

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$764

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.8%

Unoccupied

101

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

29.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
314
Korean
197
Canton
173
Arabic
83
Hindi
35
Persian ED
35

Ancestry

Chinese
1,207
English
918
Other
837
Korean
430
Irish
275
Scottish
251

Household Composition

18.8%

Couples, no children

4,066

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in service sectors: Healthcare leads at 18.0% (287 workers), followed by Education at 10.0% (159), Professional/Tech at 9.6% (152), Public Administration at 8.8% (140) and Construction at 8.4% (133). By occupation, Professionals (585) and Clerical/Admin (349) are the largest groups, ahead of Managers (302), reflecting the 46.9% university qualification rate that runs 16.8 points above national. Unemployment sits at 6.0% and the full-time employment rate is 66.6%. Participation reads a low 50.6% because 1,543 residents are not in the labour force, partly a function of the family-heavy profile where one parent often stays home. Personal income averages $764 a week against a household figure of $1,962, and the household total lands in the 73.8th percentile nationally, a comfortable middle-to-upper band rather than a wealth enclave.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

66.6%

Part-time

27.4%

Participation

50.6%

Employed

1,920

Occupations

Professionals 585
Clerical/Admin 349
Managers 302
Community/Personal 232
Sales 174
Labourers 147
Machinery/Drivers 129

Top Industries

Healthcare 18.0%
Education 10.0%
Professional/Tech 9.6%
Public Admin 8.8%
Construction 8.4%

University

46.9%

Postgraduate

13.4%

Born Overseas

47.3%

Dwellings

1,632

Transport to Work

Daily life in Dundas runs on cars: 86.6% drive to work while only 4.6% use public transport and 2.1% walk or cycle, a car-dependence well above the inner-city norm and typical of a middle-ring Sydney suburb without a heavy-rail station inside its boundary. No schools are recorded within the 1.39 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a common pattern in compact established areas. The community shows engagement, with a volunteering rate of 15.3%, and only 3.9% of residents (187 people) need daily assistance despite the family-heavy mix. Housing costs stay manageable relative to income, with rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 29.4%, both below stress levels, which keeps the suburb liveable for the families that make up most of its 1,861 couple-with-children households.

Drive

86.6%

Public Transport

4.6%

Walk / Cycle

2.1%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Dundas compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 11%
Household Income
Top 26%
Rent Level
Top 12%
Apartments
Top 40%
Renters
Top 21%
Uni Educated
Top 12%
Public Transport
Top 37%
Born Overseas
Top 3%
Density
Top 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dundas a good suburb to live in?

Dundas suits families wanting a detached home, with 52.1% separate houses and university qualifications at 46.9%, which is 16.8 points above national. The median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 29.4%, below the stress threshold.

What is the median house price in Dundas?

The median house price in Dundas is $1,150,000. A PSI-derived series shows a move from $990,000 in 2024 to $1,397,500 in 2025, though only two quarters of data exist. Weekly rent averages $428 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,500.

What schools are in Dundas?

No schools are recorded inside the 1.39 km2 Dundas boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident population is well educated, with university qualifications at 46.9%, which is 16.8 points above the national figure.

Is Dundas safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dundas in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 3.9% of the 4,959 residents need daily assistance and 79.4% have stayed put rather than moving, both consistent with a stable, settled residential area.

Is Dundas good for property investment?

Rent of $428 a week against a $1,150,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards, so returns lean on capital growth. The 5.8% vacancy rate signals a balanced market, and 35.3% of households rent, giving landlords a steady tenant pool.

How is Dundas's population changing?

Dundas holds 4,959 residents on a built-out 1.39 km2 at 3,574 people per km2, so growth is limited by density. Development is modest at 29 applications in 12 months. The 47.3% overseas-born share, 25.7 points above national, suggests migration keeps the population replenished.

What languages are spoken in Dundas?

About 47.3% of Dundas residents were born overseas, 25.7 points above national. Mandarin (314 speakers), Korean (197) and Cantonese (173) are the most common non-English languages, reflecting a Chinese-led migrant base where Chinese ancestry (1,207) is the largest group.

How much development is happening in Dundas?

There were 29 development applications lodged in Dundas over the past 12 months, modest for the area. Many are secondary dwellings and alterations to existing homes rather than new estates, consistent with a built-out suburb where 52.1% of dwellings are separate houses.

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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