Hanwood
With 99% detached houses and 43.8% of residents owning their home outright, Hanwood reads as one of the most settled owner-occupier communities in the Riverina. The population of 1,388 spread across 102.65 km2 gives a density of just 13.5 people per km2, far below the national average for suburban areas. Household income sits in the 67.1st percentile nationally, above median despite the rural setting. The suburb's dominant ancestries are Italian (475 residents) and English (330), a legacy of the post-war agricultural migration that shaped the Griffith district. Manufacturing employs 19.7% of local workers, followed by Agriculture at 15.4%, reflecting the food-processing economy tied to the surrounding irrigated farmland.
Population
1,388
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,856/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$650K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $650,000 in the 2024-2025 period reflects strong growth, with prices rising from $618,500 in 2024 to $712,000 in 2025, a 15.1% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7% stays well below the 30% stress threshold, making Hanwood more affordable to service than many comparable NSW markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, with four-bedroom or larger dwellings making up 48.2% and three-bedroom homes at 42.4%. With 43.8% of households owning outright and only 32.3% carrying a mortgage, long-term ownership is the norm rather than debt-driven speculation, giving buyers a stable and low-turnover market to enter.
For Buyers
The median house price of $650,000 in the 2024-2025 period reflects strong growth, with prices rising from $618,500 in 2024 to $712,000 in 2025, a 15.1% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7% stays well below the 30% stress threshold, making Hanwood more affordable to service than many comparable NSW markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, with four-bedroom or larger dwellings making up 48.2% and three-bedroom homes at 42.4%. With 43.8% of households owning outright and only 32.3% carrying a mortgage, long-term ownership is the norm rather than debt-driven speculation, giving buyers a stable and low-turnover market to enter.
For Investors
Hanwood offers a low-cost entry point relative to metropolitan NSW, with a $650,000 median and weekly rent of $275. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated compared to typical tight regional markets, which moderates near-term rental demand. The renter share is 23.9%, below the national average, so the tenant pool is smaller than in higher-density areas. Over 12 months, 14 development applications were lodged, including a dual occupancy and a subdivision, signalling incremental supply growth. Price growth of 15.1% in the past year is strong, driven partly by spillover demand from Griffith buyers priced out of the main centre. Investors should weigh the high vacancy rate against the affordable purchase price and solid capital growth trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
107
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hanwood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hanwood Public School
K-6 · 154 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure of 40, keeping Hanwood slightly younger on average. University qualifications at 16.0% are 14.1 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and agriculture-based workforce. The overseas-born population of 16.2% sits 5.4 points below the national average, and the dominant ancestry is Italian (475 residents, 34% of the population), reflecting the Griffith region's strong mid-twentieth century Italian migration history. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national figure, and 40.5% of families are couples with children, pointing to a family-oriented community. Volunteering at 16.6% indicates active community participation relative to the small population of 1,388.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Hanwood's housing market is defined by stability: 43.8% of households own outright, 32.3% carry a mortgage, and only 23.9% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by more than ten percentage points signals a community built on long-held, paid-off properties rather than recent debt-financed purchases. The stock is 99% separate houses, with four-bedroom or larger dwellings at 48.2% and three-bedrooms at 42.4%, making smaller dwellings rare. Prices climbed 15.1% from $618,500 to $712,000 between 2024 and 2025. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7% and rent-to-income ratio of 14.8% are both well below stress levels, indicating that housing costs remain manageable relative to the household income sitting in the 67.1st percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$825
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.9%
Couples, no children
1,002
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing is the largest employer at 19.7% of the workforce (73 workers), driven by the food and beverage processing plants tied to the Riverina's irrigated agriculture. Agriculture itself employs 15.4% (57 workers), Healthcare 11.1% (41 workers), Construction 9.4% (35 workers) and Education 8.4% (31 workers). By occupation, Managers lead at 152 workers, followed by Labourers (99) and Clerical/Admin (83), reflecting a blend of farm and plant management with hands-on production roles. The unemployment rate is very low at 2.0%, with full-time employment at 68.0% of the employed population. Household income in the 67.1st percentile nationally is above median for a rural community, reflecting the economic weight of the region's food-production industry.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.0%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
57.3%
Employed
632
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
1.1%
Born Overseas
16.2%
Dwellings
405
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high, with 84.2% of commuters driving, while public transport accounts for just 0.9%, consistent with the low density of 13.5 people per km2 across a 102.65 km2 suburb. Walking or cycling covers 6.8% of trips, above what rural density typically produces, likely reflecting short distances to local services along the flat Riverina landscape. No detailed crime data is available for Hanwood in this dataset, but the unemployment rate of 2.0% and low housing stress (mortgage-to-income 18.7%, rent-to-income 14.8%) are indirect indicators of low socioeconomic pressure. Household income in the 67.1st percentile nationally means most residents are comfortably above median. The suburb has no schools recorded in the dataset, so families travel to nearby Griffith for schooling, a minor trade-off for the lower land prices and spacious block sizes.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hanwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hanwood a good suburb to live in?
Hanwood suits buyers who want large family homes at manageable cost. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 18.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, and household income sits in the 67.1st percentile nationally. The main limitations are high car dependence (84.2% of commuters drive) and the need to travel to Griffith for schools and most services.
What is the median house price in Hanwood?
The median house price is approximately $650,000 for the 2024-2025 period, up from $618,500 in 2024 to $712,000 in 2025, a 15.1% rise in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and weekly rent is $275, both well below stress levels relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Hanwood?
No schools are recorded inside Hanwood's boundaries in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Griffith, approximately 10 km away. The local university qualification rate is 16.0%, which is 14.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade and agricultural character of the workforce.
Is Hanwood safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hanwood in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the local unemployment rate is 2.0%, among the lowest in NSW, and the housing stress measures (mortgage-to-income 18.7%, rent-to-income 14.8%) sit well below distress levels, both factors associated with low socioeconomic pressure and community stability.
Is Hanwood good for property investment?
Hanwood recorded 15.1% price growth between 2024 and 2025, from $618,500 to $712,000. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated, which moderates rental returns from the $275 weekly rent. Entry prices are lower than metropolitan NSW, and steady development activity with 14 applications in 12 months signals measured supply growth rather than oversupply risk.
How is Hanwood's population changing?
Hanwood's population stands at 1,388 and has remained stable, with a low residential turnover rate of 13.8%. This means 86.2% of residents stayed in place over the reference period, pointing to a settled community rather than rapid demographic churn. The suburb's growth is tied to the broader Griffith LGA economy rather than population-driven housing demand.
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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