East Killara
At $3.5 million median house price and household income sitting in the 97.2nd percentile nationally, East Killara is among the most financially concentrated suburbs in Sydney. The most striking number is 83.5% of dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting a suburb purpose-built for large family living rather than investment density. University qualifications reach 69.6% of residents, which is 39.5 percentage points above the national figure, and 56.1% of residents were born overseas, some 34.5 points above national. With 99.7% separate house stock and a median age of 43, East Killara has the profile of an ultra-affluent, family-oriented enclave in the Upper North Shore.
Population
2,895
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,005/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$3.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $3.5 million puts East Killara at the sharp end of Sydney's market, and recent price movement confirms momentum: prices climbed from $3,355,000 in 2024 to $3,855,000 in 2025, a 14.9% rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% sits right at the conventional stress threshold, even against household incomes in the 97.2nd percentile. Ownership is established and stable, with 48.0% of households owning outright and only 12.3% renting, well below the national renter share. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 99.7%, with 83.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, meaning competition for large family homes is intense and supply is constrained.
For Buyers
The median house price of $3.5 million puts East Killara at the sharp end of Sydney's market, and recent price movement confirms momentum: prices climbed from $3,355,000 in 2024 to $3,855,000 in 2025, a 14.9% rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% sits right at the conventional stress threshold, even against household incomes in the 97.2nd percentile. Ownership is established and stable, with 48.0% of households owning outright and only 12.3% renting, well below the national renter share. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 99.7%, with 83.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, meaning competition for large family homes is intense and supply is constrained.
For Investors
East Killara is not a yield market. Weekly rent of $1,000 against a $3.5 million median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, which is very low even by prestige Sydney standards. The 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated, reflecting the thin renter segment at 12.3% of households. Development activity remains modest at 29 applications in the past 12 months, mainly alterations and single dwelling rebuilds, so no supply surge is coming. The investment case rests almost entirely on capital growth: the 14.9% price rise from 2024 to 2025 and strong net internal migration of 486 residents a year provide the fundamental support. Overseas migration adds a further 104 annually, confirming sustained external demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
183
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
East Killara's median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the demographic trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.0 point. At 56.1% overseas-born, the suburb sits 34.5 percentage points above the national average, one of the highest overseas-born concentrations in NSW. Chinese ancestry leads at 1,353 residents, followed by English (538), and the top spoken languages are Mandarin (294 speakers) and Cantonese (217), reflecting a significant East Asian community. University qualifications at 69.6% are 39.5 points above national, the highest tier of educational attainment. Average household size of 3.2 exceeds the national figure by 0.7, consistent with the large family-home stock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.7%
Houses
0.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in East Killara is dominated by outright owners at 48.0%, with mortgage holders at 39.7% and renters at just 12.3%, well below the national renter share. This ownership structure reflects long-held, wealth-backed positions rather than recent speculative buying. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.7%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 0.3% and no apartment supply. Bedroom composition is skewed to large homes: 83.5% have 4 or more bedrooms and 15.3% have 3 bedrooms, leaving 2-bedroom homes at only 1.2%. Prices rose 14.9% from $3,355,000 to $3,855,000 between 2024 and 2025. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% is at the stress boundary, though outright owners at 48.0% hold the balance of the suburb's equity debt-free.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,900
Rent / wk
$1,000
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$905
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.9%
Couples, no children
2,667
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is concentrated in high-paying sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 22.0% (221 workers), Healthcare at 15.1% (152) and Finance at 14.0% (141). By occupation, Professionals (510) and Managers (261) together dominate the workforce, consistent with the SEIFA IEO score of 964 at decile 5 for education and occupation. The unemployment rate of 4.2% is relatively low, and the full-time employment rate is 62.2%, though the participation rate of 50.5% is below what incomes might suggest, because 991 residents are not in the labour force. This is explained by the aging profile and the significant share of retired, high-wealth households. Real incomes grew 16.1% over the decade, outpacing national averages. The SEIFA IER score of 1042 at decile 8 reflects strong household economic resources.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
12,023
Unemployed
456
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
50.5%
Employed
1,139
Occupations
Top Industries
University
69.6%
Postgraduate
22.7%
Born Overseas
56.1%
Dwellings
881
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 82.0% of commuters driving, compared to the national average, which reflects the suburb's low density and distance from heavy rail. Public transport use of 8.2% is modest for a Sydney suburb. With no crime data available in this dataset, the SEIFA IRSD score of 1027 at decile 6 serves as a proxy indicator: the suburb registers low relative disadvantage, though not at the extreme top tier. The IRSAD score of 994 at decile 5 and IRSD decile 6 indicate advantage relative to the broader NSW population. Only 3.4% of residents (97 people) need daily assistance, low for a suburb with a median age of 43. No schools are recorded inside the East Killara boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs within the broader Killara catchment.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.05%/yr
(+490 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Killara carries Active gentrification signals: population grew 51% since 2011 and net internal migration runs at 486 residents per year, with an additional 104 arriving from overseas annually. The 10-year population change reached 34.1% and the annual growth trend runs at 2.05%, projecting the area's SA2 population to reach around 26,169 by 2031 on the medium scenario. Rent growth of 37.0% over the period is well above the national rate, a marker of sustained demand pressure. The young-adult share fell 1.3 points while the senior share rose 4.1 points, signalling an aging trajectory within what is still a fast-growing suburb. Gentrification score of 57 at the Active stage places East Killara well ahead of the national baseline, driven by income growth of 16.1% in real terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+486
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +51% since 2011, Net internal migration +486/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 29%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Killara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Killara a good suburb to live in?
East Killara ranks in the 97.2nd percentile nationally for household income, with university qualifications at 69.6%, some 39.5 points above the national figure. The suburb is almost entirely detached housing at 99.7%, with 83.5% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, making it well suited for family living. The main trade-off is a $3.5 million median house price.
What is the median house price in East Killara?
The median house price is $3.5 million, placing East Killara among Sydney's most expensive suburbs. Prices rose 14.9% from $3,355,000 in 2024 to $3,855,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,900 and weekly rent averages $1,000.
What schools are in East Killara?
No schools are recorded within the East Killara boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the neighbouring Killara, Gordon and Lindfield areas. The suburb's population is highly educated, with 69.6% holding university qualifications, which is 39.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is East Killara safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for East Killara in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb's SEIFA IRSD score of 1027 at decile 6 indicates low relative disadvantage, and household income sits in the 97.2nd percentile nationally. Only 3.4% of residents (97 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is East Killara good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $1,000 against a $3.5 million median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, which is very low. The 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter share is just 12.3%. The investment case depends on capital growth: prices rose 14.9% in one year and net internal migration of 486 residents annually supports sustained demand.
How is East Killara's population changing?
The broader area has grown 34.1% over 10 years and is projected to reach around 26,169 by 2031. Net internal migration of 486 residents annually is the primary driver, with overseas arrivals adding a further 104 per year. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in East Killara?
About 56.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 34.5 percentage points above the national average. Mandarin is spoken by 294 residents and Cantonese by 217, reflecting a large East Asian community. Chinese ancestry accounts for 1,353 residents, the largest ancestry group, ahead of English at 538.
How much development is happening in East Killara?
There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, comprising mainly alterations, single dwelling rebuilds and complying development certificates. No apartment or multi-unit supply is evident, consistent with the 99.7% detached house stock. Activity is modest relative to the suburb's 3.19 square kilometre area.
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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