East Lindfield
Household income in East Lindfield sits at the 99th percentile nationally, yet the suburb's median house price of $4,050,000 means that even residents at the very top of the income distribution are spending 26.7% of income on mortgage repayments. The 2.33 km2 pocket on Sydney's upper north shore holds 3,710 people at a density of 1,592 per km2, 88% of dwellings are separate houses, and 68.7% have four or more bedrooms. University qualifications reach 69.4%, which is 39.3 percentage points above the national figure, the highest comparison gap in the dataset. Overseas-born residents account for 40.6%, or 19 percentage points above the national average.
Population
3,710
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,457/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
48
Median House
$4.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $4,050,000 places East Lindfield among NSW's most expensive markets. Prices rose from $3,850,000 in 2024 to $4,258,750 in 2025, a 10.6% gain in a single year, before settling at the current $4,050,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold but is still demanding against a market priced almost entirely for high-earning households. Outright owners at 49.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 38.7%, a ratio suggesting much of the stock is held by established, debt-free families. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.0%, with 68.7% having four or more bedrooms, making the suburb predominantly family-scale rather than entry-level.
For Buyers
The median house price of $4,050,000 places East Lindfield among NSW's most expensive markets. Prices rose from $3,850,000 in 2024 to $4,258,750 in 2025, a 10.6% gain in a single year, before settling at the current $4,050,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold but is still demanding against a market priced almost entirely for high-earning households. Outright owners at 49.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 38.7%, a ratio suggesting much of the stock is held by established, debt-free families. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.0%, with 68.7% having four or more bedrooms, making the suburb predominantly family-scale rather than entry-level.
For Investors
Rental demand in East Lindfield is thin rather than deep. Only 12.1% of households rent, well below state and national averages, and weekly rent averages $990. An 8.3% vacancy rate is notably high for a low-renter suburb, indicating that landlords compete for a limited pool of tenants even at the premium end. Development activity recorded 48 applications in 12 months, with recent lodgements including dual occupancy and dwelling alterations, which points to incremental densification rather than large supply additions. The low renter share and high vacancy rate together imply yields are under pressure, so the investment case rests primarily on continued capital growth rather than rental income. Price growth of 10.6% year-on-year through 2025 demonstrates that growth has been strong, though the base is now extremely high.
Development Activity
Total DAs
260
Last 12 Months
48
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Lindfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lindfield East Public School
K-6 · 531 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, reflecting an established family and post-family cohort rather than a young renter base. University qualifications at 69.4% run 39.3 percentage points above the national average, the most distinctive single comparison in the brief. Overseas-born residents account for 40.6%, or 19 percentage points above national. Ancestry is split almost equally between English (1,130) and Chinese (1,129), followed by Irish (343) and Scottish (330). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (236 speakers) and Cantonese (172), consistent with the strong Chinese-ancestry count. Average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above the national average, driven by the family-oriented housing stock. Volunteering runs at 23.8%, above typical suburban levels.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.0%
Houses
0.3%
Townhouse
11.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by owners: 49.2% hold outright and 38.7% carry a mortgage, leaving only 12.1% renting. That ownership concentration reflects both the wealth profile and the long-held nature of this established suburb. Stock composition strongly favours large separate houses: 88.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.7% have four or more bedrooms, compared to state and national medians that sit well below both figures. Apartments account for just 11.7%. Prices rose from $3,850,000 in 2024 to $4,258,750 in 2025 before consolidating at $4,050,000, implying a 10.6% move over the period. Mortgage-to-income at 26.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 28.6% likewise remains manageable, though both ratios are only sustainable because household income is in the 99th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,000
Rent / wk
$990
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,132
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.3%
Unoccupied
106
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.2%
Couples, no children
3,348
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and managerial workers dominate the employed population. Professionals number 687 and Managers 391 out of roughly 1,472 employed residents, which is consistent with the 69.4% university qualification rate. By industry, Professional/Tech leads at 23.0% (299 workers), Finance at 13.8% (180) and Healthcare at 12.9% (168), with Education at 9.4% (122) and Retail at 6.2% (81). Full-time employment runs at 64.5% and unemployment at 4.8%. Participation of 52.9% reads below its income level because 1,154 residents are not in the labour force, a figure that includes retirees and full-time carers in a suburb whose median age is 3 years above national. Weekly household income of $3,457 corresponds to the 99th income percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.5%
Part-time
30.7%
Participation
52.9%
Employed
1,472
Occupations
Top Industries
University
69.4%
Postgraduate
24.1%
Born Overseas
40.6%
Dwellings
1,167
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 79.8% of residents drive to work, above the national average, and public transport use is low at 5.7%, with walking and cycling at 6.3%. The suburb has no schools recorded within its boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in Lindfield and Gordon. Need-for-assistance rates are low at 4.0% (143 residents), consistent with a relatively young-to-middle-aged homeowner cohort even with a median age of 43. Rent-to-income at 28.6% is below the 30% stress level, and mortgage-to-income at 26.7% stays below stress too, both sustainable only because household income sits in the 99th percentile nationally. Crime data is not available for this suburb in the dataset.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Lindfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Lindfield a good suburb to live in?
East Lindfield places household income in the 99th percentile nationally, with 69.4% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 39.3 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb is predominantly separate houses, 88% of stock, in a low-density 2.33 km2 footprint. The main trade-off is an entry cost of $4,050,000 for the median house.
What is the median house price in East Lindfield?
The median house price is $4,050,000. Prices rose 10.6% from $3,850,000 in 2024 to a peak of $4,258,750 in 2025 before consolidating. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, though only because incomes are in the 99th percentile nationally.
What schools are in East Lindfield?
No schools are recorded within the East Lindfield boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Lindfield and Gordon. Locally, 69.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 39.3 points above the national average, reflecting a highly educated household base.
Is East Lindfield safe?
Crime statistics specific to East Lindfield are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits in the 99th percentile nationally and only 4.0% of residents (143 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area. SEIFA index scores are not available for this suburb.
Is East Lindfield good for property investment?
The investment case is primarily capital-growth driven. Prices rose 10.6% in a single year to a peak of $4,258,750 in 2025. Weekly rent of $990 against a $4,050,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, and an 8.3% vacancy rate adds risk. Only 12.1% of households rent, so the tenant pool is narrow by national and state standards.
How is East Lindfield's population changing?
The current population is 3,710 across 2.33 km2. Residential stability is high: 87.4% of residents stayed at the same address over the five-year census period, compared to much higher turnover in renter-heavy suburbs. A turnover rate of only 12.6% means new stock entering the market is limited, which structurally underpins prices.
What languages are spoken in East Lindfield?
About 40.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 19 percentage points above the national average. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (236 speakers) and Cantonese (172). Ancestry splits almost evenly between English (1,130) and Chinese (1,129) backgrounds, making East Lindfield one of Sydney's more bilingual north shore suburbs.
How much development is happening in East Lindfield?
There were 48 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent approvals include dual occupancy and dwelling alterations. Dual occupancy activity suggests incremental densification is beginning, consistent with 88% of dwellings currently being separate houses on a suburb that previously had little subdivision activity.
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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