Guildford
At 24,091 residents, Guildford combines a young age profile with strong migration links: the median age is 31, 9 years below national, while 50.1% were born overseas, 28.5 percentage points above national. Density reaches 4,080.5 people per square kilometre across 5.9 square kilometres, and average household size is 3.1, or 0.6 above national. Compared with nearby Merrylands and Granville, Guildford has a pronounced mix of family households, renters and multilingual residents. That combination helps explain its 32.1% work-from-home share alongside 54.7% driving to work.
Population
24,091
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,314/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
154
Guildford suits buyers who compare dwelling types rather than rely on one suburb-wide price signal. Separate houses account for 55.0% of homes, apartments 29.1% and semi-detached dwellings 15.8%; 32.0% have 3 bedrooms and 26.7% have 4 or more. Compared with a house-only market, this mix broadens entry options because buyers can trade space, tenure and building type. Mortgage repayments are $2,015 a month, with mortgage costs at 35.4% of household income, higher than the 28.8% rent-to-income figure. Outright ownership is 21.5% and mortgage ownership 28.4%, so financing conditions remain relevant.
For Buyers
Guildford suits buyers who compare dwelling types rather than rely on one suburb-wide price signal. Separate houses account for 55.0% of homes, apartments 29.1% and semi-detached dwellings 15.8%; 32.0% have 3 bedrooms and 26.7% have 4 or more. Compared with a house-only market, this mix broadens entry options because buyers can trade space, tenure and building type. Mortgage repayments are $2,015 a month, with mortgage costs at 35.4% of household income, higher than the 28.8% rent-to-income figure. Outright ownership is 21.5% and mortgage ownership 28.4%, so financing conditions remain relevant.
For Investors
Guildford presents a tenant-oriented case, with 48.3% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent of $378. Compared with owner-heavy suburbs, that rental base can support consistent enquiry because almost half of households seek leased housing. The 9.4% vacancy rate is a counterweight: it is not a tight-vacancy signal, so investors should not assume recent rent momentum will continue unchanged. Rent growth reached 18.2%, while rent-to-income was 28.8% and the rent-stress flag was false. Internal migration is the primary forecast driver, and 151 development applications were recorded over 12 months, increasing the need to check competing supply, property type and tenant appeal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
817
Last 12 Months
154
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Guildford
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Guildford's demographic profile is younger and more internationally connected than the national pattern. Median age is 31, or 9 years below national, and 50.1% were born overseas, 28.5 percentage points above national. Lebanese ancestry is recorded for 5,839 people, Islam for 9,408 and Arabic for 3,647. University participation or attainment is 32.5%, 2.4 points above national, while household income sits at the 32.6th percentile, below the midpoint. Average household size is 3.1, 0.6 above national, because couples with children make up 52.6% of families. Compared with nearby Merrylands and Granville, language and family patterns are especially important to daily demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.0%
Houses
15.8%
Townhouse
29.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Guildford has a mixed tenure and dwelling profile rather than a detached-house majority. Separate houses make up 55.0% of stock, versus 29.1% apartments and 15.8% semi-detached homes. Bedroom supply is spread across 2-bedroom homes at 33.2%, 3-bedroom homes at 32.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 26.7%, supporting both smaller households and larger families. Compared with nearby Merrylands and Granville, buyers should assess the exact street and building type because a suburb-wide median can hide differences between apartments, semis and houses. Only 21.5% own outright, while 28.4% have a mortgage and 48.3% rent. That renter-heavy structure matters because mortgage costs reach 35.4% of income, while rent takes 28.8%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,015
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $378.
$645
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $785 · units $555
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$513
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.4%
Unoccupied
729
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.6%
Couples with children
24.3%
Couples, no children
20.5%
Single parent
5,394
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Guildford's largest industry at 20.0% and 818 workers, followed by construction at 10.0%, education at 9.5%, retail at 8.7% and professional or technical work at 7.9%. Leading occupations include professionals at 1,245, clerical and administrative workers at 1,011 and trades at 910. Compared with a higher-income suburb, weekly household income is modest at $1,314, the 32.6th percentile. Unemployment is 10.6%, participation 40.5% and full-time employment 49.7%, so labour-market capacity is mixed. SEIFA shows IEO decile 4, but IER, IRSD and IRSAD are each decile 1, a gap that points to stronger education and occupation measures than broader economic resources and advantage.
Unemployment
10.6%
Labour Force
7,511
Unemployed
796
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.7%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
40.5%
Employed
6,715
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.5%
Postgraduate
8.2%
Born Overseas
50.1%
Dwellings
6,984
Transport to Work
Guildford's everyday mobility is car-oriented: 54.7% travel as car drivers, compared with 6.1% using public transport and 1.2% walking or cycling. A further 32.1% work from home, which may reduce commute frequency but does not remove the value of convenient local access. Four nearby government schools cover 3 primary settings and 1 secondary setting, including a creative and performing arts high school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Compared with a more transit-dependent suburb, Guildford is likely to suit households with car access better than those relying on active travel. The IRSAD decile is 1, and 8.3% of residents need assistance, so budgeting should include transport and support needs. No verified suburb crime rate is available, so check local police and council safety information before choosing a property.
Drive
54.7%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
32.1%
Population Forecast
+3.04%/yr
(+231 people/yr)
EstablishedGuildford's growth outlook is stronger than a static established-suburb label suggests. The forecast trend is 3.04% annually, with internal migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 49.4% over 10 years, while rent growth is 18.2%, so demand pressure is visible beyond owner-occupier activity. The shift trajectory is Mixed and affordability moved from 46.2 in 2011 to 38.3 in 2021, even though the affordability trend is labelled Improving. Gentrification signals remain limited: the forecast gentrification score is 0 with a New development stage, while the shift measure records 19 and Not gentrifying. Compared with mature areas growing more slowly, Guildford's expansion is better explained by internal migration and new development than by conventional gentrification.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+78
Net Internal / yr
+335
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Guildford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guildford a good suburb to live in?
Guildford can suit households seeking a young, family-oriented and multicultural setting. The median age is 31, below national by 9 years, average household size is 3.1 and 54.7% drive to work. Compared with a highly walkable suburb, it is better matched to residents comfortable with a car-oriented routine.
What is the median house price in Guildford?
A verified median house price is not available, so recent comparable sales should guide budgeting. Guildford's housing mix is 55.0% separate houses, 29.1% apartments and 15.8% semi-detached homes. Compare sales by dwelling type, land size and bedroom count because the overall median can shift with this mix.
What schools are in Guildford?
Guildford has 4 nearby government schools, comprising 3 primary settings and 1 secondary setting. The mix includes a creative and performing arts high school. Compared with a single-school area, families have more local sector and year-level options, but enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address before signing a lease or contract.
Is Guildford safe?
No verified suburb crime rate is available, so safety cannot be compared reliably with neighbouring areas. Prospective residents should check recent NSW Police or council information and visit the street at different times. Guildford covers 5.9 square kilometres at a density of 4,080.5 people per square kilometre, making street and building conditions important.
Is Guildford good for property investment?
Guildford has an investment case built around rental demand, with 48.3% renting and weekly rent of $378. Rent growth was 18.2%, but the 9.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tight-vacancy setting would suggest. With 151 development applications in 12 months, compare future supply, property type and tenant appeal before buying.
How is Guildford's population changing?
Guildford has 24,091 residents today. The wider-area forecast indicates 3.04% annual growth and 49.4% population change over 10 years, driven primarily by internal migration. The trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification is scored 0 and labelled New development, so change appears more connected to incoming residents and development than a classic gentrification cycle.
What languages are commonly spoken in Guildford?
Arabic is the most common listed language at 3,647 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 391, Urdu at 383, Nepali at 242 and Canton at 229. With 50.1% born overseas, language access can matter when comparing schools, health services and tenancy arrangements. Lebanese ancestry is recorded for 5,839 residents, above the counts for English ancestry at 2,228 and Chinese ancestry at 1,592.
What development is happening in Guildford?
Development activity is high, with 151 applications in the last 12 months. The sample includes general industry, a secondary dwelling and commercial development, so change is not limited to one housing format. Compared with a low-activity suburb, buyers and investors should check whether nearby works affect parking, noise, construction timing or future competition.
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.
Explore Guildford on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map