Heathcote
At 6,148 residents across 10.17 square kilometres, Heathcote combines a detached-home setting with above-average household resources and an older age profile. Median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national figure, while household income ranks at the 84.7th percentile. Separate houses account for 74.5% of dwellings and 4-plus-bedroom homes for 41.1%, helping explain its family-sized suburban form. For buyers comparing Heathcote with nearby Engadine and Lucas Heights, the suburb presents a more clearly detached profile than an apartment-led market, reinforced by 40.4% working from home.
Population
6,148
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,240/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Homebuyers are choosing a housing mix led by 74.5% separate houses, with 41.1% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and only 12.7% apartments. That layout suits households seeking space, especially where 49.5% of families are couples with children and average household size is 2.7. A monthly mortgage of $2,553 equals 26.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $520 and rent-to-income is 23.2%, indicating that ownership costs are material but not flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, Heathcote offers more land-oriented housing, although buyers should allow for car-based travel because 52.9% drive to work and only 2.7% use public transport.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a housing mix led by 74.5% separate houses, with 41.1% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and only 12.7% apartments. That layout suits households seeking space, especially where 49.5% of families are couples with children and average household size is 2.7. A monthly mortgage of $2,553 equals 26.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $520 and rent-to-income is 23.2%, indicating that ownership costs are material but not flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, Heathcote offers more land-oriented housing, although buyers should allow for car-based travel because 52.9% drive to work and only 2.7% use public transport.
For Investors
Heathcote's investment case rests more on resident stability than on a large rental market. Weekly rent is $520, vacancy is 3.6%, and only 11.5% of households rent, so the tenant pool is smaller than in a strongly renter-oriented suburb. The 14.7% turnover rate and 85.3% staying rate point to established occupancy patterns, while 43 development applications in 12 months indicate active property activity, not necessarily 43 new dwellings. Rent growth of 62.5% and forecast growth of 1.49% annually, driven by internal migration, support a demand case. Compared with lower-cost markets, worsening affordability from 42.3 to 46.8 calls for conservative cash-flow checks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
237
Last 12 Months
44
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heathcote
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Heathcote has an older demographic profile, with a median age of 43, or 3.0 years above the national figure. Its overseas-born share is 12.2%, which is 9.4 percentage points below national levels, and university attainment is 28.6%, or 1.5 points lower than nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 2,697 people, followed by Irish at 837 and Scottish at 690, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning profile. Christianity accounts for 3,431 responses and no religion for 2,261. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above the national comparison, while 85.3% stayed at the same address, helping explain the suburb's established social pattern compared with higher-turnover areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.5%
Houses
11.2%
Townhouse
12.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Heathcote is dominated by owner-occupied, detached housing. Outright ownership accounts for 40.1% of households and mortgages for 44.4%, while renting is only 11.5%. The dwelling mix is 74.5% separate houses, 11.2% semi-detached homes and 12.7% apartments. Larger properties are common, with 39.2% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 41.1% having 4 or more, compared with 12.5% with 2 bedrooms and 7.2% with 0 or 1 bedroom. This structure supports family households because 49.5% of families are couples with children. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Heathcote carries more space and ownership exposure, alongside a $2,553 monthly mortgage and 3.6% vacancy rate.
Mortgage / mo
$2,553
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $520.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,000 · units $720
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$957
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.5%
Couples with children
36.7%
Couples, no children
12.8%
Single parent
1,723
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Heathcote's largest recorded industry at 14.8% and 323 workers, followed by Education at 14.5% and 316, Construction at 11.9% and 260, Public Administration at 10.2% and 223, and Professional and Technical services at 9.7% and 211. The leading occupations are Professionals with 708 people, Clerical and Administrative workers with 493, Trades with 480, Managers with 403 and Community and Personal Service workers with 374. Unemployment is 2.6% from a labour force of 3,131, while participation is 62.7%. Economic resources rank higher than education and occupation: IER is decile 9 versus IEO decile 7, with IRSD at 9 and IRSAD at 8. That pattern is consistent with household income at the 84.7th percentile.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
3,131
Unemployed
81
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
3,050
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.6%
Postgraduate
7.2%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
2,147
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 52.9% of workers drive, compared with 2.7% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. Working from home is comparatively prominent at 40.4%, which reduces commuting pressure for some households. Two nearby government schools cover primary and secondary years, providing a basic local sector mix, though enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Heathcote's 10.17-square-kilometre area and density of 604.4 people per square kilometre give it a suburban setting rather than a high-rise one. Socioeconomic measures are above the national midpoint, with IRSAD at decile 8 and IRSD at decile 9, supporting access to household resources compared with lower-ranked areas.
Drive
52.9%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
40.4%
Population Forecast
+1.49%/yr
(+80 people/yr)
EstablishedHeathcote has an established growth outlook, with forecast annual growth of 1.49% driven by internal migration. The wider-area population change measure is 24.3% over 10 years, while the demographic trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 4.0-point increase in the senior share and a 0.4-point decline in the young share. Compared with a static established suburb, this indicates measurable momentum, but it is not a young-family growth profile. Gentrification signals are mixed: one measure records a score of 37 at the Early signs stage, while the shift assessment records 63 and Active. Rent growth of 62.5% and affordability moving from 42.3 to 46.8, labelled Worsening, point to rising demand alongside greater cost pressure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+6
Net Internal / yr
+96
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal migration +96/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 19%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heathcote compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heathcote a good suburb to live in?
Heathcote suits households seeking established, detached housing and a quieter suburban setting. It has 6,148 residents, a median age of 43, 74.5% separate houses and 2 government schools covering primary and secondary years. Car dependence is high at 52.9%, so transport needs should be considered.
What is the median house price in Heathcote?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales and a current suburb price index. Heathcote's housing mix is 74.5% separate houses, with 41.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms, so comparisons should focus on similar detached homes. Weekly rent is $520 and vacancy is 3.6%.
What schools are in Heathcote?
Heathcote has 2 government schools: 1 primary school and 1 secondary school. Families should confirm the relevant enrolment zone for the exact address, as boundaries can affect eligibility. The local school mix is complemented by an average household size of 2.7 and 49.5% of families being couples with children.
Is Heathcote safe?
A current safety decision should use NSW Police or council incident information for the exact street and time period. Heathcote has 6,148 residents and an 85.3% same-address retention rate, which indicates residential stability but does not measure crime. Buyers and renters should review recent local incidents before committing.
Is Heathcote good for property investment?
Heathcote has a stable but relatively small rental market, with weekly rent of $520, vacancy of 3.6% and 11.5% of households renting. Forecast annual growth is 1.49%, driven by internal migration, and rent growth is 62.5%. However, 43 development applications in 12 months and worsening affordability from 42.3 to 46.8 warrant careful due diligence.
How is Heathcote's population changing?
Heathcote has 6,148 residents today, with forecast annual growth of 1.49% driven by internal migration. The wider-area population change measure is 24.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.0 points and the young share down 0.4 points, indicating growth alongside demographic maturity.
What development is occurring in Heathcote?
Heathcote recorded 43 development applications over 12 months. The activity includes complying development certificates, a swimming pool and alterations to an existing dwelling, so the count should not be treated as 43 new homes. With vacancy at 3.6% and rent growth of 62.5%, property activity is occurring alongside strong rental-cost pressure.
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.
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