Elanora Heights
Household income is the standout feature of Elanora Heights, sitting at the 97.4th percentile nationally, while the suburb has 4,581 residents and a median age of 41, only 1 year above the national median. Housing is strongly detached, with 94.2% of dwellings separate houses and 57.8% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Only 12.7% of households rent, while 87.2% of residents stayed at the same address over the relevant period, supporting a low-turnover profile. Compared with an apartment-oriented search in nearby Narrabeen, Elanora Heights is more suited to established households seeking space, privacy and long-term tenure.
Population
4,581
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,052/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
42
Elanora Heights suits buyers prioritising detached homes and larger floorplans, because 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes account for 32.0%, while only 7.5% have 2 bedrooms and 2.7% have 0 or 1 bedroom. The indicative mortgage commitment is $3,586 per month, equal to 27.1% of household income, which is higher than the 24.6% rent-to-income figure. Household income at the 97.4th percentile is above the national position, but buyers still need to test repayments against their own deposit and borrowing capacity.
For Buyers
Elanora Heights suits buyers prioritising detached homes and larger floorplans, because 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes account for 32.0%, while only 7.5% have 2 bedrooms and 2.7% have 0 or 1 bedroom. The indicative mortgage commitment is $3,586 per month, equal to 27.1% of household income, which is higher than the 24.6% rent-to-income figure. Household income at the 97.4th percentile is above the national position, but buyers still need to test repayments against their own deposit and borrowing capacity.
For Investors
The suburb presents a low-rental, established investment profile. At 12.7%, the renter share is lower than both outright ownership at 42.5% and mortgage ownership at 43.9%, so the tenant pool is smaller than in a more rental-oriented market. Weekly rent is $750 and vacancy is 3.1%, while rent growth has reached 45.8% across the forecast period. A total of 42 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including secondary dwellings and alterations, which may gradually add rental options. Compared with higher-yield strategies, the case here relies more on household quality, limited detached stock and long-term demand than on high turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
256
Last 12 Months
42
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Elanora Heights
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Elanora Heights has a mature family profile: the median age is 41, which is 1.0 year above the national median, and average household size is 3.2 people, 0.7 above the national figure. Couples with children represent 59.1% of households, helping explain the strong demand for 4 or more bedroom homes. University attainment is 42.4%, or 12.3 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 21.4%, just 0.2 percentage points below national, while English ancestry is most common at 1,997 people, followed by Irish at 561, Scottish at 529 and Italian at 269. Christianity numbers 2,410 compared with 1,892 reporting no religion.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.2%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
5.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Elanora Heights is overwhelmingly a detached-house market, with 94.2% separate houses compared with 5.8% apartments. The bedroom mix is similarly spacious: 57.8% have 4 or more bedrooms, 32.0% have 3, 7.5% have 2 and 2.7% have 0 or 1. Tenure is split between 42.5% owning outright and 43.9% with a mortgage, while just 12.7% rent. The $3,586 monthly mortgage figure equates to 27.1% of household income, higher than the 24.6% rent-to-income ratio, with neither measure flagged as housing stress. Compared with a more apartment-oriented market such as nearby Narrabeen, the local stock is better aligned with families seeking land and multiple bedrooms.
Mortgage / mo
$3,586
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $750.
$900
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,300 · units $850
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,046
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.1%
Unoccupied
46
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
59.1%
Couples with children
29.5%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
1,280
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy combines professional work with practical service industries. Professional and technology jobs lead at 16.6% and 285 workers, followed by construction at 13.7% and 236, healthcare at 13.7% and 236, education at 12.2% and 209, and retail at 5.5% and 94. The largest occupations are professionals at 668 people, managers at 500, clerical and administrative workers at 314, trades at 291 and community or personal service workers at 208. Labour-force participation is 67.7%, unemployment is 2.1% and 54.8% work full time. Socioeconomic standing is above the national midpoint, with IEO in decile 9 and IER, IRSD and IRSAD all in decile 10, consistent with household income at the 97.4th percentile.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
2,421
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.8%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
67.7%
Employed
2,370
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.4%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
21.4%
Dwellings
1,403
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented, with 44.2% of residents driving to work compared with only 1.0% using public transport and 1.2% walking or cycling. However, 51.1% work from home, which reduces the effect of limited weekday transit because many households do not commute every day. Elanora Heights has 1 local government primary school, Elanora Heights Public School, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Socioeconomic conditions are above the national position, with IRSAD and IRSD in decile 10, IER in decile 10 and IEO in decile 9. Volunteering is 18.9%, while 3.9% need assistance. Check current local crime reports before deciding, since safety can vary by street and time.
Drive
44.2%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
51.1%
Population Forecast
+0.58%/yr
(+78 people/yr)
EstablishedElanora Heights has an established and gradual growth pattern, with an annual trend of 0.58% and population change across the wider area of 7.6% over 10 years. Overseas migration is identified as the primary growth driver, while the trajectory is labelled Aging. That direction is supported by a 3.4% increase in the senior share, alongside declines of 0.7% in the young share and 2.2% in the working share. The main gentrification forecast gives a score of 3 and a stage of Not gentrifying, although a separate shift indicator records a score of 43 and Early signs. Compared with a rapid-growth release area, this points to steady renewal shaped by established households, limited turnover and demographic ageing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+99
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Elanora Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elanora Heights a good suburb to live in?
Elanora Heights can suit households wanting established detached housing, larger floorplans and a quieter residential setting. The suburb has 4,581 residents, a median age of 41 and 94.2% separate houses. The trade-off is car dependence, with 44.2% driving to work and only 1.0% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Elanora Heights?
No current median house price is stated for Elanora Heights. The housing profile is still clear: 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. Buyers should compare recent local sales by street, land size, condition and bedroom count rather than rely on a suburb-wide figure alone.
What schools are in Elanora Heights?
Elanora Heights Public School is the local listed government primary school. Families should confirm the relevant intake area for each address, because enrolment boundaries can affect access. The suburb has 1 listed local school, so households may also need to consider nearby options for other year levels.
Is Elanora Heights safe?
A current safety decision should use NSW Police crime information, an inspection at different times and street-level due diligence. Elanora Heights has 4,581 residents and a low turnover profile, with 87.2% staying at the same address, but those figures do not replace current local safety checks.
Is Elanora Heights good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking established, family-oriented housing rather than a high-turnover rental market. Weekly rent is $750, vacancy is 3.1% and renters represent 12.7% of households. There were 42 development applications over 12 months, while the annual growth trend is 0.58% and overseas migration is the primary driver.
How is Elanora Heights's population changing?
Growth is gradual rather than rapid. Population change across the wider area is 7.6% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.58%. The trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.4% rise in the senior share and a 0.7% decline in the young share. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
What development is occurring in Elanora Heights?
There were 42 development applications recorded over 12 months. Examples include secondary dwellings, dwelling-house alterations, balconies, decks, patios, earthworks and retaining walls. This suggests incremental household-scale change rather than a major apartment-led redevelopment pattern.
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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