Harris Park
Density is the defining fact in Harris Park: 5,043 residents occupy 0.63 sq km, or 7,951.8 people per sq km. The median age is 31, nine years below the national average, while 79.6% were born overseas. Compared with nearby Parramatta, its 85.4% apartment share and 73.4% renting rate point to a more compact, renter-led market. Indian ancestry counts 1,760 people, and overseas migration remains the main growth driver. This combination supports urban convenience but limits detached-home choice.
Local council: Parramatta
Population
5,043
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,779/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Homebuyers are choosing an apartment-led market rather than a detached-house setting: 85.4% of dwellings are apartments, 76.0% have 2 bedrooms and only 8.3% are separate houses. Compared with family-oriented outer suburbs, Harris Park is more suitable for buyers prioritising location and lower-maintenance stock than large yards. Weekly rent is $360 and average mortgage payments are $1,750 monthly, while rent and mortgage costs represent 20.2% and 22.7% of income. Affordability improved from 60.8 in 2011 to 44.9 in 2021, although the 13.2% vacancy rate signals a fluid market. Strata fees, parking and building condition matter because apartment concentration makes these costs more important than land size.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing an apartment-led market rather than a detached-house setting: 85.4% of dwellings are apartments, 76.0% have 2 bedrooms and only 8.3% are separate houses. Compared with family-oriented outer suburbs, Harris Park is more suitable for buyers prioritising location and lower-maintenance stock than large yards. Weekly rent is $360 and average mortgage payments are $1,750 monthly, while rent and mortgage costs represent 20.2% and 22.7% of income. Affordability improved from 60.8 in 2011 to 44.9 in 2021, although the 13.2% vacancy rate signals a fluid market. Strata fees, parking and building condition matter because apartment concentration makes these costs more important than land size.
For Investors
Investors get a renter-heavy base: 73.4% of residents rent, weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 13.2%. Compared with tightly held owner-occupier suburbs, this creates a larger tenant pool, but the elevated vacancy rate can increase competition between landlords. Rent growth is 17.2%, while 15 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, reinforcing demand for compact apartments, yet apartment supply and a turnover rate of 37.5% warrant conservative assumptions about rent stability and resale. Building quality, strata costs and leasing performance should be assessed individually because suburb-level demand does not remove asset-specific risks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
122
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-21.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
At 31, Harris Park's median age is 9 years below the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 79.6%, which is 58.0 percentage points above the national figure, and 63.3% have university qualifications, 33.2 points above national. Indian ancestry is recorded for 1,760 people, while Hinduism has 2,363 adherents. Gujarati, Hindi and Punjabi are prominent language groups, with counts of 438, 347 and 168. Average household size is 2.5, and 37.5% of residents moved during the reference period. Compared with older suburban markets, this is a younger and more internationally connected profile, while smaller households help explain the dominance of two-bedroom apartments.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
8.3%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
85.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Harris Park's tenure pattern is unusually renter-led: 73.4% rent, compared with 9.9% owning outright and 15.9% with a mortgage. Apartment living dominates at 85.4%, while separate houses account for just 8.3%; 76.0% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms. The 0.63 sq km footprint and density of 7,951.8 people per sq km explain why land is scarce and strata apartments shape the market. Household income is $1,779 a week, with rent at $360 and mortgage payments at $1,750 a month. Compared with detached-home suburbs, Harris Park trades yard space for compact housing, and its 13.2% vacancy rate indicates more choice for renters but less scarcity for landlords.
Mortgage / mo
$1,750
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $360.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $700
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$802
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.2%
Unoccupied
286
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.2%
Couples with children
41.6%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
1,193
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech leads local employment at 17.2% and 328 workers, followed by Healthcare at 15.0% and 286, Retail at 11.6% and 222, Transport at 7.8% and 148, and Finance at 7.2% and 138. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 703, ahead of Labourers at 339 and Machinery/Drivers at 299. The labour force numbers 2,691, participation is 62.5%, unemployment is 8.3% and household income sits at the 62.7th percentile. Compared with the national education profile, university attainment is 33.2 points higher, yet SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation rank in decile 7, income and economic resources in decile 1, IRSD in decile 3 and IRSAD in decile 5. This split suggests strong professional capacity alongside uneven income security.
Unemployment
8.3%
Labour Force
2,691
Unemployed
223
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.0%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
2,468
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.3%
Postgraduate
26.5%
Born Overseas
79.6%
Dwellings
1,865
Transport to Work
Daily life is suited to compact households and commuters. Public transport is used by 16.3% of residents, compared with 35.7% who drive, while 6.5% walk or cycle and 36.9% work from home. The density of 7,951.8 people per sq km brings services and daily activity close together, but also means parking, noise and building management deserve careful address-level checks. Compared with car-oriented suburbs, the combination of 85.4% apartments and a 0.63 sq km footprint supports shorter local trips, although the 13.2% vacancy rate and 37.5% turnover indicate a less settled feel. An IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb near the middle on relative advantage, while the median age of 31 suits a younger urban rhythm.
Drive
35.7%
Public Transport
16.3%
Walk / Cycle
6.5%
Work from Home
36.9%
Growth Outlook
Growth is forecast at 1.16% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 17.2% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Stable rather than rapid acceleration. Rents have grown 17.2%, and affordability improved from 60.8 in 2011 to 44.9 in 2021, helping sustain renter interest despite a 13.2% vacancy rate. Gentrification signals are mixed: the gentrification score is 28 at the Early signs stage, while the shift measure records an Active stage and score of 45. Compared with high-growth fringe areas, Harris Park's outlook is steadier because its established apartment base and overseas migration driver support gradual change.
Population trend: Parramatta council area
Harris Park sits in the Parramatta council area. These are the council area's residents, not Harris Park's.
Residents 2025
279,014
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Harris Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harris Park a good suburb to live in?
Harris Park can suit residents who value a young, apartment-based and internationally connected setting. The median age is 31, apartments make up 85.4% of dwellings and public transport is used by 16.3%. It is less suitable for buyers wanting a detached house, large yard or low-density streets.
What is the median house price in Harris Park?
No reliable median house price is quoted for Harris Park. Apartments account for 85.4% of dwellings, 76.0% are two-bedroom homes and weekly rent is $360. Buyers should compare recent sales by building, strata fees, parking and condition rather than applying a single suburb-wide figure.
What schools are in Harris Park?
School choices should be checked against the exact address and enrolment zone. Harris Park covers 0.63 sq km, so nearby public, Catholic and independent options may sit across suburb boundaries. Confirm current intake rules and transport before signing a lease or contract; proximity alone does not establish school quality.
Is Harris Park safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is quoted for Harris Park, so a numerical safety verdict should not be assumed. The area is compact at 0.63 sq km and has 7,951.8 people per sq km. Check recent NSW Police information and inspect the exact street, building entry and late-night surroundings before deciding.
Is Harris Park good for property investment?
Harris Park can work for investors seeking a renter-heavy apartment market, but it needs careful underwriting. Renting is 73.4%, weekly rent is $360, vacancy is 13.2% and 15 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Overseas migration supports demand, while high vacancy and apartment supply can pressure rents between leasing cycles.
How is Harris Park's population changing?
Harris Park has 5,043 residents today. The wider area's population change is 17.2% over 10 years, and growth is forecast at 1.16% annually with overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Stable, so change is more likely to be gradual than a sudden population surge.
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).
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