NSW 2117 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Dundas Valley

Almost half the residents of Dundas Valley were born overseas, 49.2%, which is 27.6 points above the national figure, and that migration story drives much of the suburb's character. Chinese ancestry leads at 1,614 residents ahead of English at 864 and Korean at 581, while Mandarin (431 speakers), Korean (270) and Cantonese (235) top the non-English languages. Household income sits in the 66.5th percentile nationally and SEIFA ranks the area decile 8 on IRSAD, an above-average advantage tier. The median house price of $1,727,500 and a young median age of 38, two years below national, complete a profile of an established, family-oriented pocket in Sydney's northwest.

Dundas Valley urban fabric map

Population

5,875

Median Age

38.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,835/wk

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

65

Median House

$1.7M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

1.81 km²· 3,253.9 people/km²· Family income $2,137/wk

The $1,727,500 median puts Dundas Valley firmly in Sydney's upper-middle bracket, and prices rose 4.0% from $1,683,500 in 2024 to $1,750,000 in 2025. The stock suits families: 65.4% are separate houses against only 4.7% apartments, and 41.0% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms with another 37.8% at three bedrooms. That scarcity of small stock means buyers seeking an entry-level unit have few options, because the suburb was built for owner-occupier households averaging 2.8 people, above the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,672, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.6%, above the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 66.5th percentile, so affordability is stretched for newer buyers.

For Buyers

The $1,727,500 median puts Dundas Valley firmly in Sydney's upper-middle bracket, and prices rose 4.0% from $1,683,500 in 2024 to $1,750,000 in 2025. The stock suits families: 65.4% are separate houses against only 4.7% apartments, and 41.0% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms with another 37.8% at three bedrooms. That scarcity of small stock means buyers seeking an entry-level unit have few options, because the suburb was built for owner-occupier households averaging 2.8 people, above the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,672, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.6%, above the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 66.5th percentile, so affordability is stretched for newer buyers.

For Investors

Renters make up 38.5% of households and weekly rent averages $428, giving landlords a solid tenant base in a house-dominated market where 65.4% of dwellings are separate houses. Against the $1,727,500 median that rent implies a gross yield near 1.3%, low by national standards, so the case rests on capital growth rather than income. Rent has grown 40.0% over the period, which is well above wage growth, and the 7.5% vacancy rate is moderate. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds 323 residents a year, more than offsetting net internal outflow of 160. Development activity is steady at 60 applications in 12 months, skewed toward dual occupancy and secondary dwellings rather than apartment supply, which keeps the rental pool tight.

Development Activity

Total DAs

319

Last 12 Months

65

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+4.8%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Demolition
42
Subdivision
22
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
16
Renovation / Extension
12
Commercial / Industrial
10
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
10
New Dwelling
8
Swimming Pool / Spa
3

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

St Bernadette's Primary School

ICSEA 1083 Primary Catholic

K-6 · 188 students

Yates Avenue Public School

ICSEA 1040 Primary Government

P-6 · 155 students

Demographics

The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, a younger profile than the established-suburb label suggests, supported by an average household size of 2.8, which is 0.3 above national. Overseas-born residents reach 49.2%, fully 27.6 points above national, and ancestry is led by Chinese (1,614), then English (864) and Korean (581). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (431), Korean (270) and Cantonese (235), with Arabic (123) following. University qualifications stand at 49.6%, which is 19.5 points above national, reflecting a skilled migrant population. Christianity remains the largest religion at 2,824 residents, with Buddhism (251) and Islam (205) the notable next groups, consistent with the East Asian and Middle Eastern migration mix.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.7%
15-24
11.8%
25-44
28.5%
45-64
26.5%
65+
13.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
9.8%
2 bed
11.5%
3 bed
37.8%
4+ bed
41.0%

Dwelling Structure

65.4%

Houses

29.9%

Townhouse

4.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 23.6% Mortgage 37.9% Rent 38.5%

Tenure is balanced across three groups: 37.9% carry a mortgage, 38.5% rent and 23.6% own outright. The high mortgage share relative to outright owners points to a younger, still-paying-down buyer base rather than long-held wealth. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 65.4% separate houses and 29.9% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 4.7%, so the housing market is built around families. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 41.0% and three-bedroom 37.8%, while one and two-bedroom dwellings together are only 21.3%. The median house price rose from $1,683,500 to $1,750,000 across 2024-2025, a 4.0% move. Mortgage-to-income at 33.6% sits above the stress threshold while rent-to-income at 23.3% stays comfortable, a divergence showing purchase prices are steep relative to local incomes in the 66.5th percentile.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,672

Rent / wk

$428

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$726

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

7.5%

Unoccupied

159

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

23.3%

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

33.6% stressed

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
431
Korean
270
Canton
235
Arabic
123
Persian ED
43
Italian
26

Ancestry

Chinese
1,614
Other
889
English
864
Korean
581
Ancestry NS
392
Irish
285

Household Composition

18.8%

Couples, no children

4,811

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in service and knowledge sectors: Healthcare leads at 15.5% (287 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 12.1% (223) and Education at 10.8% (200), with Construction at 9.8% and Retail at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals (722) and Clerical/Admin (402) dominate, ahead of Managers (351), which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment runs at 5.9% and the full-time employment rate is 65.3%. Participation reads a low 49.3%, because 1,762 residents are not in the labour force, partly students and partly retirees. SEIFA shows an anomaly worth noting: IRSAD sits at decile 8 advantage but IRSD reads decile 5 for disadvantage and IER decile 6, because the 38.5% renter base and mixed migrant incomes pull aggregate resource measures below the education ranking.

Unemployment

3.9%

Labour Force

11,144

Unemployed

434

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
5
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

65.3%

Part-time

28.8%

Participation

49.3%

Employed

2,192

Occupations

Professionals 722
Clerical/Admin 402
Managers 351
Community/Personal 228
Sales 197
Labourers 157
Machinery/Drivers 116

Top Industries

Healthcare 15.5%
Professional/Tech 12.1%
Education 10.8%
Construction 9.8%
Retail 6.5%

University

49.6%

Postgraduate

15.3%

Born Overseas

49.2%

Dwellings

1,968

Transport to Work

Dundas Valley is heavily car-dependent: 86.7% of commuters drive while only 4.6% use public transport and 1.8% walk or cycle, above the national reliance on cars, a function of its location away from the main rail line. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, an above-average advantage tier nationally, though the decile 5 IRSD reading shows a mixed disadvantage picture more typical of a migrant-gateway suburb. Volunteering runs at 13.2% and 5.4% of residents (299 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 1.81 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the spacious detached housing on lots that suit households averaging 2.8 people, above national.

Drive

86.7%

Public Transport

4.6%

Walk / Cycle

1.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.93%/yr

(+182 people/yr)

Established

Dundas Valley is classified as established but still expanding, with the surrounding catchment growing 17.4% over the past decade and trend forecasts pointing to roughly 0.93% annual growth, about 182 people a year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 323 residents annually, while net internal migration runs at minus 160, so new arrivals from abroad more than replace those leaving for other parts of Sydney. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 26 to 36, supported by an 18% population rise since 2011 and full recovery from a 3.2% COVID dip. Affordability worsened from 53.3% in 2011 to 55.4% in 2021, and rent growth of 40.0% over the period reflects rising demand pressure on a tight detached-house market.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+323

Net Internal / yr

-160

26

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -160/yr, Strong overseas inflow +323/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)

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

How Dundas Valley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 10%
Household Income
Top 34%
Rent Level
Top 12%
Apartments
Top 45%
Renters
Top 17%
Uni Educated
Top 10%
Public Transport
Top 37%
Born Overseas
Top 3%
Density
Top 3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dundas Valley a good suburb to live in?

Dundas Valley scores decile 8 on the IRSAD index, an above-average advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 66.5th percentile. University qualifications reach 49.6%, 19.5 points above national, and the median age of 38 suits families. The main trade-offs are heavy car dependence at 86.7% and a high $1,727,500 median house price.

What is the median house price in Dundas Valley?

The median house price is $1,727,500, in Sydney's upper-middle bracket. Prices rose 4.0% from $1,683,500 in 2024 to $1,750,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $428 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,672, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.6%, above the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Dundas Valley?

No schools are recorded inside the 1.81 km2 Dundas Valley boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is well educated, with university qualifications at 49.6%, which is 19.5 points above the national figure.

Is Dundas Valley safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dundas Valley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSAD advantage index, above average nationally, and only 5.4% of its 5,875 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a stable residential area.

Is Dundas Valley good for property investment?

Rent of $428 a week against a $1,727,500 median gives a gross yield near 1.3%, low nationally, though rent grew 40.0% over the period. Net overseas migration of 323 a year supports demand and the renter share is 38.5%, so returns lean on capital growth rather than yield.

How is Dundas Valley's population changing?

The wider catchment grew 17.4% over the past decade and is forecast to rise about 0.93% a year, near 182 people annually. Overseas migration adds a net 323 residents a year while net internal migration runs at minus 160, so growth is driven almost entirely by new arrivals from abroad.

What languages are spoken in Dundas Valley?

About 49.2% of residents were born overseas, 27.6 points above the national figure. After English, the most common languages are Mandarin (431 speakers), Korean (270), Cantonese (235) and Arabic (123), reflecting a strong East Asian and Middle Eastern migrant presence.

How much development is happening in Dundas Valley?

There were 60 development applications lodged in the past 12 months across the 1.81 km2 suburb. Most are dual occupancy, secondary dwellings and alterations to existing homes rather than apartments, consistent with a detached-house market where separate houses make up 65.4% of dwellings.

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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