Figtree
Detached housing sets the tone in Figtree: 82.5% of dwellings are separate houses, far above the 4.2% apartment share, while 46.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The suburb has 12,335 residents across 8.56 sq km and a median age of 40, exactly in line with the national benchmark. Compared with inner Wollongong and West Wollongong, it reads more as a family foothills market because ownership is high, incomes sit in the 76.4th percentile, and schools are spread through the suburb.
Population
12,335
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,042/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
93
Median House
$1.2M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
For homebuyers, Figtree is a detached house market with a $1,085,000 median house price and 82.5% separate houses. The 4 plus bedroom share is 46.2%, higher than the 3 bedroom share of 40.2%, so families get more room than in many apartment led suburbs. Monthly mortgages sit at $2,229 and mortgage payments take 25.2% of income, below common stress thresholds, because household incomes are relatively strong at $2,042 a week.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Figtree is a detached house market with a $1,085,000 median house price and 82.5% separate houses. The 4 plus bedroom share is 46.2%, higher than the 3 bedroom share of 40.2%, so families get more room than in many apartment led suburbs. Monthly mortgages sit at $2,229 and mortgage payments take 25.2% of income, below common stress thresholds, because household incomes are relatively strong at $2,042 a week.
For Investors
Investors face a low turnover rental pool rather than a high renter market: only 17.9% of homes rent, below ownership with 41.7% owned outright and 40.5% mortgaged. Median rent is $430 a week and vacancy is 3.3%, so income may be steady but not scarce. The 86 development applications in 12 months signal renovation and infill activity, while 54.7% rent growth in the shift period points to demand pressure because supply is mostly detached.
Development Activity
Total DAs
463
Last 12 Months
93
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Figtree iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Nareena Hills Public School
K-6 · 209 students
Figtree Heights Public School
K-6 · 181 students
Figtree Public School
K-6 · 264 students
Figtree High School
7-12 · 880 students
Demographics
Figtree's 12,335 residents are older family oriented but not unusually aged: the median age is 40, equal to the national comparison. University attainment is 37.9%, which is 7.8 percentage points above the national level, helping explain the 76.4th percentile household income. Overseas born residents are 22.2%, only 0.6 points above national, and ancestry leans English at 4,075 people, Scottish 1,222, Irish 1,116 and Italian 833.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.5%
Houses
9.7%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is ownership heavy and price resilient. The latest house median is $1,100,000 in 2025, up 3.8% from $1,060,000 in 2024, with the peak also at $1,100,000, so the peak to latest fall is 0.0%. Owned outright households are 41.7% and mortgaged households 40.5%, both above the 17.9% renting share. A $2,229 monthly mortgage equals 25.2% of income, below stress settings, because household income sits in the 76.4th percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$2,229
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $430.
$665
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $780 · units $545
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$815
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.3%
Unoccupied
147
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples, no children
10,506
Total families
Economy & Employment
Figtree's workforce is anchored by public service style jobs: healthcare employs 929 people or 21.7%, education 648 or 15.2%, then public admin 368, professional and tech 366, and construction 352. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,650, above managers at 746 and clerical roles at 745. Unemployment is 4.5% and full time work is 63.4%, while SEIFA scores sit in decile 7 for IRSAD and IRSD, because incomes and education are solid rather than elite.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
13,169
Unemployed
599
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
55.1%
Employed
5,215
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.9%
Postgraduate
10.7%
Born Overseas
22.2%
Dwellings
4,287
Transport to Work
Livability is car based but school supported. Only 1.1% commute by public transport and 89.9% drive, well above the 2.4% who walk or cycle, because the suburb spreads across 8.56 sq km of foothill streets. Four local government schools cover primary and secondary years; Nareena Hills Public School has ICSEA 1080, Figtree Heights 1061 and Figtree High enrols 880 students. ICSEA ranges from 1013 to 1080, above the 1000 reference point, while IRSAD decile 7 adds socio economic support.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.81%/yr
(+192 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth looks measured rather than explosive. The trend path adds 0.81% a year, or 192 people annually, and the medium series moves from 23,912 in 2026 to 24,869 in 2031. Migration is the main driver: overseas inflow averages 330 people a year, compared with net internal movement of -124, so locals moving out partly offsets arrivals. The gentrification score is 14 and labelled Not gentrifying, below the shift period's active score of 54, which fits a mature suburb where affordability worsened from 51.6 to 55.0.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+330
Net Internal / yr
-124
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal outflow -124/yr, Strong overseas inflow +330/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Figtree compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Figtree a good suburb to live in?
Figtree suits households wanting space, schools and a quieter foothills setting near Wollongong. Separate houses make up 82.5% of dwellings, 46.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, and incomes sit in the 76.4th percentile, above average for Australia.
What is the median house price in Figtree?
The median house price is $1,085,000, with the latest price history at $1,100,000 in 2025. That is 3.8% higher than $1,060,000 in 2024, and the peak to latest change is 0.0%, indicating no recorded pullback from the recent peak.
What schools are in Figtree?
Figtree has 4 local government schools: Nareena Hills Public School, Figtree Heights Public School, Figtree Public School and Figtree High School. ICSEA ranges from 1013 to 1080, above the 1000 reference point, and Figtree High enrols 880 students.
Is Figtree safe?
Safety should be checked at street level using current NSW crime maps, because conditions can vary across Figtree's 8.56 sq km. Household stability is a positive sign, with 41.7% owned outright and 40.5% mortgaged, both higher than the 17.9% renting share.
Is Figtree good for property investment?
Figtree is more of a stable ownership market than a high renter market. Renting is 17.9%, below the 41.7% owned outright share, but rent is $430 a week, vacancy is 3.3%, and 86 development applications point to active renewal and infill demand.
How is Figtree's population changing?
Growth is steady rather than rapid. The trend path adds 0.81% a year, or 192 people annually, while overseas migration averages 330 people a year compared with net internal movement of -124. The medium series rises from 23,912 in 2026 to 24,869 in 2031.
Is there much development in Figtree?
Yes. There were 86 development applications in the past 12 months, well above the 20 application threshold for a notable development pipeline. Recent examples include new dwellings, alterations and additions, and a 2 dwelling dual occupancy proposal.
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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