Flinders
Detached houses make up 73.7% of Flinders dwellings and 54.6% of homes carry four or more bedrooms, marking this Illawarra suburb as built for families rather than downsizers. Yet the demographic data tells a more complex story: the senior share has climbed 10.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.0 points, an aging trajectory unusual for a large-home suburb. The $975,000 median sits against a household income at the 79.6th percentile nationally, and SEIFA places the area in the IER decile 9 for economic resources, well above the median while IEO decile 6 shows education is more middling. Macedonian heritage stands out, with 628 residents claiming it as ancestry and 199 still speaking the language, the second-largest cultural marker after English.
Population
7,118
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,103/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$975K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $975,000 median (PSI derived, 2024-2025) reflects a market of large detached homes, with 54.6% of stock carrying four or more bedrooms and another 37.6% offering three. Apartments are almost non-existent at 0.5%, so buyers seeking compact options look elsewhere. Prices rose from $950,000 in 2024 to $985,000 in 2025, a 3.7% lift that is steady rather than explosive. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold because family incomes reach $2,294 a week. Owner-occupiers dominate, with 46.4% holding a mortgage and 29.3% owning outright, leaving only 24.4% renting. The high four-bedroom share suits established families more than first-home buyers.
For Buyers
The $975,000 median (PSI derived, 2024-2025) reflects a market of large detached homes, with 54.6% of stock carrying four or more bedrooms and another 37.6% offering three. Apartments are almost non-existent at 0.5%, so buyers seeking compact options look elsewhere. Prices rose from $950,000 in 2024 to $985,000 in 2025, a 3.7% lift that is steady rather than explosive. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold because family incomes reach $2,294 a week. Owner-occupiers dominate, with 46.4% holding a mortgage and 29.3% owning outright, leaving only 24.4% renting. The high four-bedroom share suits established families more than first-home buyers.
For Investors
Renters make up just 24.4% of households, a thin tenant pool compared to the owner-occupier majority where 46.4% hold a mortgage and 29.3% own outright. Weekly rent of $490 against the $975,000 median produces a gross yield near 2.6%, modest but stronger than many inner-city markets. The vacancy rate of 3.2% is balanced rather than tight, and rent has grown 58.2% over the decade, the standout signal for income investors. Development is moderate, with 20 applications lodged in 12 months, several being swimming pools and a subdivision, indicating gradual densification. Net overseas migration adds 48 residents a year while internal migration removes 24, so demand growth is slow at 0.38% annually, favouring long-hold capital plays over rental turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
127
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Flinders iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Flinders Public School
K-6 · 518 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national median, but the trajectory points the other way: the senior share has risen 10.9 points over the decade and the young share fell 4.0 points. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the family-sized housing. Overseas-born residents at 16.3% sit 5.3 points below the national average, making this a more Australian-born area than most. English ancestry leads at 2,547, but Macedonian is the distinctive second marker at 628, ahead of Scottish (565) and Irish (550), and 199 residents still speak Macedonian at home. University qualifications at 24.1% are 6.0 points below national, reflecting a workforce weighted toward trades, healthcare and clerical roles rather than knowledge-economy professions.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.7%
Houses
25.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans heavily to ownership, with 46.4% of households holding a mortgage, 29.3% owning outright and only 24.4% renting. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 73.7%, with semi-detached at 25.7% and apartments a negligible 0.5%, so the area offers almost no high-density living. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 54.6% and three-bedroom homes 37.6%, leaving smaller dwellings rare. The price series moved from $950,000 in 2024 to $985,000 in 2025, a 3.7% gain. Despite the $975,000 median, affordability holds because mortgage-to-income runs at 23.8% and rent-to-income at 23.3%, both below the 30% stress line. The IER decile 9 confirms economic resources well above the national distribution, explaining how residents carry large-home mortgages without widespread stress.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$490
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$822
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
78
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.6%
Couples, no children
6,263
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 19.8% (472 workers), followed by Construction at 11.6% (276), Education at 11.0% (263), Public Admin at 9.9% (236) and Manufacturing at 8.1% (192), a blue-collar and service mix rather than a professional hub. Professionals lead occupations at 648, but Clerical/Admin (504) and Community/Personal services (418) are close behind, reflecting the healthcare and public-sector weighting. Unemployment at 4.0% is below the national average, though participation of 58.7% is moderate, pulled down by the rising senior share. SEIFA scores split: IER decile 9 signals economic resources above the national median, while IEO decile 6 shows education and occupation rank only mid-table, consistent with the trades-heavy workforce.
Unemployment
0.8%
Labour Force
3,180
Unemployed
24
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
3,123
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.1%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
16.3%
Dwellings
2,377
Transport to Work
Flinders is firmly car-dependent, with 93.8% of commuters driving, only 0.9% using public transport and 0.4% walking or cycling, well below what denser suburbs offer. That reflects its Illawarra fringe position and detached, low-density form at 3,085 people per square kilometre. The owner-occupier majority and average household size of 2.9, which is 0.4 above national, point to settled family life rather than transient renting, reinforced by an 81.5% stayed rate. The IRSAD decile 7 places the area above the national median for relative advantage, and housing stress stays contained with mortgage-to-income at 23.8% and rent-to-income at 23.3%, both under the 30% threshold. The volunteering rate of 10.3% suggests an engaged local population.
Drive
93.8%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.38%/yr
(+23 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.38% per year, adding roughly 23 residents annually, with the medium forecast moving from 6,055 in 2026 to 6,172 by 2031. Over the past decade the area grew 12.5%, modest compared to high-growth Sydney fringe suburbs. The primary driver is overseas migration at 48 net arrivals a year, while internal migration runs negative at 24 departures, showing residents trend outward even as the area holds steady. The defining shift is age structure: the senior share climbed 10.9 points and the working-age share fell 5.0 points, an aging trajectory. Rent grew 58.2% over the decade and real incomes 24.2%, both well above flat, and the gentrification shift score of 58 marks the area as actively changing rather than static.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+48
Net Internal / yr
-24
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Flinders compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flinders a good suburb to live in?
Flinders suits families wanting space, with 73.7% detached houses and 54.6% of homes having four or more bedrooms. The IRSAD decile 7 sits above the national median for advantage, and housing stress stays low with mortgage-to-income at 23.8%. The trade-off is heavy car reliance, with 93.8% driving to work and only 0.9% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Flinders?
The median house price is $975,000 (PSI derived, 2024-2025). Prices rose from $950,000 in 2024 to $985,000 in 2025, a 3.7% gain. Weekly rent averages $490 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, keeping mortgage-to-income at 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Flinders?
The data brief lists no schools located within the Flinders suburb boundary, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs across the broader Shellharbour area. The suburb houses 7,118 residents with an average household size of 2.9, 0.4 above the national average, indicating strong family demand for nearby education.
Is Flinders safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available in the data brief for Flinders. As an indirect signal, the area ranks in IRSAD decile 7, above the national median for relative socio-economic advantage, and 81.5% of residents stayed put rather than moving, both factors typically associated with settled, lower-turnover neighbourhoods.
Is Flinders good for property investment?
Rent grew 58.2% over the decade and weekly rent of $490 against a $975,000 median yields about 2.6% gross. The vacancy rate of 3.2% is balanced, but the renter pool is thin at 24.4% of households. With slow population growth of 0.38% per year, this favours long-hold capital plays over high rental turnover.
How is Flinders's population changing?
Population grows slowly at 0.38% per year, adding about 23 residents annually, with a forecast of 6,172 by 2031. The decade brought 12.5% growth, but the area is aging: the senior share rose 10.9 points while the working-age share fell 5.0 points. Overseas migration adds 48 a year, offset by 24 internal departures.
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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