Glenfield
Population growth of 39.4% over the past decade makes Glenfield one of Sydney's fastest-transforming established suburbs, driven by overseas migration of 166 per year that has pushed the overseas-born share to 51.8%, sitting 30.2 percentage points above the national average. Indian ancestry (1,408) has overtaken English (1,432) as nearly the largest group, and Bengali (316), Nepali (315), Arabic (198) and Hindi (186) dominate the non-English language landscape. Despite this rapid demographic shift, the SEIFA profile is solidly mid-range: IRSAD decile 6, IRSD decile 5, and IEO decile 7. The $927,000 median house price rose only 3.9% over the latest year, subdued compared to the population growth rate.
Population
10,536
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,070/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
54
Median House
$927K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $927,000 median rose modestly from $905,000 in 2024 to $940,000 in 2025, a 3.9% gain that trails inflation-adjusted benchmarks. Detached houses account for 69.3% of stock, with semi-detached at 28.2% reflecting significant townhouse development along the rail corridor. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 46.4%, with four-plus at 36.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,167 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2%, comfortably below the 30% threshold. The 14.7% public transport share, among the highest in this batch, reflects Glenfield station's role as a junction on the T2 and T5 lines. Hurlstone Agricultural High (ICSEA 1,147, selective, 934 students) is one of Sydney's top government secondary schools within the suburb.
For Buyers
The $927,000 median rose modestly from $905,000 in 2024 to $940,000 in 2025, a 3.9% gain that trails inflation-adjusted benchmarks. Detached houses account for 69.3% of stock, with semi-detached at 28.2% reflecting significant townhouse development along the rail corridor. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 46.4%, with four-plus at 36.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,167 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2%, comfortably below the 30% threshold. The 14.7% public transport share, among the highest in this batch, reflects Glenfield station's role as a junction on the T2 and T5 lines. Hurlstone Agricultural High (ICSEA 1,147, selective, 934 students) is one of Sydney's top government secondary schools within the suburb.
For Investors
Renters make up 34.8% of households with median weekly rent at $420, producing gross yield around 2.4% on the $927,000 median. The 4.5% vacancy rate is above the balanced-market benchmark but not alarming. Rent growth of 44.8% over the decade is strong, and population growth of 1.65% per year (177 persons) ensures expanding tenant demand. With 50 DAs lodged in 12 months, including secondary dwellings and demolition-rebuilds, the supply pipeline is active. Net overseas migration of 166 per year fuels the renter pool, while internal migration runs negative at 95 per year. The affordability trend is worsening (mortgage-to-income moved from 47.5% to 49.8% over the decade), suggesting rents may face upward pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
227
Last 12 Months
54
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-1.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Glenfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hurlstone Agricultural High School
7-12 · 934 students
Glenfield Public School
K-6 · 470 students
Glenwood Public School
K-6 · 216 students
Demographics
Indian ancestry (1,408) nearly matches English (1,432) as the largest group, with Chinese (811) following. Bengali (316), Nepali (315), Arabic (198), Hindi (186) and Mandarin (159) are the main non-English languages. With 51.8% born overseas, the suburb sits 30.2 percentage points above the national average. The university qualification rate of 47.2% is 17.1 points above national, and the median age of 36 is 4 years below national. Hinduism (1,687) and Islam (1,258) together nearly match Christianity (4,339), a religious profile that distinguishes Glenfield from most western Sydney suburbs. The average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, and couples with children dominate at 50.6% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.3%
Houses
28.2%
Townhouse
2.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split shows 22.7% outright owners, 42.5% mortgage holders, and 34.8% renters, a mortgage-heavy profile. Detached houses at 69.3% are the majority, but the 28.2% semi-detached share is well above the national average, reflecting the townhouse belt along the rail corridor. Three-bedroom homes at 46.4% and four-plus at 36.6% together account for 83.0% of stock. Prices moved from $905,000 to $940,000, a 3.9% gain that is modest. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% is comfortable, and rent-to-income at 20.3% is manageable. Affordability has worsened slightly from 47.5% in 2011 to 49.8% in 2021, meaning housing costs have grown slightly faster than incomes. The price-to-income ratio is roughly 8.7 times annual household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$844
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
153
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.7%
Couples, no children
8,799
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 21.9% (752 workers), followed by Professional/Technical at 9.8%, Education at 8.5%, Public Administration at 8.5% and Finance at 7.7%. The healthcare concentration is among the highest in this batch, reflecting proximity to Liverpool Hospital. Professionals lead occupations at 1,260, with Clerical/Admin (701) and Community/Personal (536) following. Machinery/Drivers at 424 is higher than typical for this income bracket, reflecting the suburb's position along the logistics corridor. Unemployment at 6.6% is above the national average, and participation at 52.2% is below average. The SEIFA profile is mid-range: IEO decile 7, IER decile 6, IRSAD decile 6, indicating moderate advantage.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
6,386
Unemployed
226
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.8%
Part-time
23.6%
Participation
52.2%
Employed
4,063
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.2%
Postgraduate
16.3%
Born Overseas
51.8%
Dwellings
3,222
Transport to Work
Public transport captures 14.7% of commuters via Glenfield station (T2/T5 junction), well above the national median. Car driving sits at 76.3% and walking/cycling at 2.1%. Schools offer a standout option: Hurlstone Agricultural High (ICSEA 1,147, selective Government secondary, 934 students) is one of Sydney's top academic schools. Glenfield Public (1,070, 470 students) sits above the national benchmark, while Glenwood Public (988, 216 students) falls below. The IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 5 indicate moderate socio-economic conditions. The 9.0% volunteering rate is below the national average, typical of high-migration suburbs where community institutions are still forming.
Drive
76.3%
Public Transport
14.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.65%/yr
(+177 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth of 1.65% per year adds 177 people annually. The 10-year change of 39.4% is exceptional for an established suburb. Net overseas migration of 166 per year drives growth, while internal migration runs negative at 95 per year, meaning the population is being replenished by international arrivals. The demographic trajectory is mixed: the young share grew by 2.0 percentage points while the senior share was flat (0.1 points), and the working-age share barely changed (0.1 points). The gentrification score of 13 at broader level is not gentrifying, despite population growth of 38% since 2011, because income growth has not accompanied the population influx.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+166
Net Internal / yr
-95
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +38% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glenfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glenfield a good suburb to live in?
Glenfield suits families wanting train access (Glenfield station, T2/T5 junction, 14.7% public transport usage) and strong secondary schooling. Hurlstone Agricultural High (ICSEA 1,147) is a top selective school. The $927,000 median is below the Sydney average, and mortgage stress at 24.2% is comfortable. IRSAD decile 6 is mid-range nationally.
What is the median house price in Glenfield?
The median house price is $927,000 (PSI-derived), with the latest quarter at $940,000 in 2025, up 3.9% from $905,000 in 2024. Median weekly rent is $420 and monthly mortgage repayments are $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2%. Household income sits at the 77.9 percentile nationally.
What schools are in Glenfield?
Glenfield has 3 schools. Hurlstone Agricultural High School (ICSEA 1,147, selective Government secondary, 934 students) is the standout. Glenfield Public School (1,070, Government, 470 students) exceeds the national benchmark. Glenwood Public (988, 216 students) sits slightly below the 1,000 threshold. The IEO decile 7 confirms above-average education access.
Is Glenfield safe?
Crime data is not available for Glenfield in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 5 indicates average socio-economic conditions nationally. The IRSAD decile 6 and 47.2% university qualification rate (17.1 points above national) suggest a moderate risk profile, though the 6.6% unemployment rate is above the national average.
Is Glenfield good for property investment?
The 34.8% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool. Gross yield is roughly 2.4% ($420/week on $927,000). Rent growth of 44.8% over the decade is strong, and population growth of 1.65% per year (177 persons) ensures expanding demand. The 4.5% vacancy rate is slightly elevated. Capital growth of 3.9% over the latest year is modest. 50 DAs in 12 months show active development.
How is Glenfield's population changing?
Growth is strong at 1.65% per year (177 persons), with the 10-year change at 39.4%, exceptional for an established suburb. Overseas migration of 166 per year drives growth, while internal migration runs negative at 95. Indian ancestry (1,408) nearly matches English (1,432) as the largest group. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national.
What languages are spoken in Glenfield?
Bengali (316), Nepali (315), Arabic (198), Hindi (186) and Mandarin (159) lead non-English languages, reflecting strong South Asian and Middle Eastern migration. With 51.8% born overseas (30.2 points above national), Glenfield is a migrant-majority suburb. Indian (1,408) and Chinese (811) ancestry groups shape the linguistic landscape.
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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