Heckenberg
Half of Heckenberg's 3,263 residents rent rather than own, which is unusual for a suburb where 85.9% of dwellings are separate houses. That combination points to a high-density tenant base in detached stock, with a median age of 32, eight years younger than the national figure. Household income sits at the 22.3rd percentile nationally, well below average, yet house prices reached $892,000 in 2024-2025. With 43% of residents born overseas, more than 21 percentage points above the national rate, the suburb draws heavily from Arabic, Vietnamese and Lebanese communities.
Population
3,263
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,159/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$892K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $892,000 represents a significant commitment relative to local incomes, which sit at the 22.3rd percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850 against a median household weekly income of $1,159, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.9%, above the 30% stress threshold. That burden is higher than typical Sydney mortgage-belt suburbs at comparable price points. Separate houses dominate at 85.9% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes accounting for 50.5% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings a notable 38.4%, suiting larger family households. Price history shows a climb from $875,000 in 2024 to $951,000 in 2025, an 8.7% rise in one year, suggesting the market moved sharply upward from the earlier trough.
For Buyers
The median house price of $892,000 represents a significant commitment relative to local incomes, which sit at the 22.3rd percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850 against a median household weekly income of $1,159, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.9%, above the 30% stress threshold. That burden is higher than typical Sydney mortgage-belt suburbs at comparable price points. Separate houses dominate at 85.9% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes accounting for 50.5% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings a notable 38.4%, suiting larger family households. Price history shows a climb from $875,000 in 2024 to $951,000 in 2025, an 8.7% rise in one year, suggesting the market moved sharply upward from the earlier trough.
For Investors
A 50.5% renter share gives investors a deep tenant pool, well above the national average for detached-house suburbs. Weekly rent of $300 against the $892,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.7%, low by national standards but typical for Western Sydney. The vacancy rate of 6.7% is elevated, signalling some tenant softness that warrants attention before committing. Development activity totals 17 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwellings and dual occupancy approvals, indicating modest but steady infill activity. With overseas-born residents at 43% and an average household size of 3.3 people, considerably above the national figure, demand tends to concentrate in larger 3-4 bedroom stock rather than apartments.
Development Activity
Total DAs
106
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heckenberg iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Heckenberg Public School
K-6 · 209 students
Demographics
Heckenberg's median age of 32 is 8 years younger than the national figure, driven by a large working-age and family cohort. Overseas-born residents reach 43%, which is 21.4 percentage points above the national rate, one of the more pronounced migrant concentrations in Western Sydney. The top ancestry groups are Vietnamese (486), English (460) and Lebanese (429), and Arabic is the most-spoken non-English language with 349 speakers. Religion reflects that mix: Islam (769 residents) is the second largest faith group after Christianity (1,041), with Buddhism (433) third. University qualifications at 19.2% run 10.9 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades and manual occupations. Average household size of 3.3 is 0.8 above the national average, reflecting the family-oriented demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.9%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
7.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split with 50.5% renting, 28.4% on mortgages and 21.2% owning outright. The renter majority is notable because 85.9% of dwellings are separate houses rather than apartments, meaning tenants occupy detached family homes rather than a high-rise stock typical of renter-heavy areas. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.5% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom for 38.4%, leaving very little small stock. Rent-to-income sits at 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 36.9% is above it, meaning owners bear more financial strain than tenants relative to local incomes. The median price climbed from $875,000 to $951,000 between 2024 and 2025, a compound growth rate of 8.7%, outpacing many comparable Western Sydney postcodes over the same period.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,850
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$462
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
66
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.7%
Couples, no children
2,725
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23.8% of employed residents (96 workers), followed by Construction at 12.2% (49), Retail at 10.9% (44) and Education at 10.4% (42). By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead with 141 workers, closely followed by Labourers at 138, Community and Personal Services at 115 and Clerical and Admin at 106. Professionals account for only 85 workers, consistent with university qualification rates 10.9 percentage points below national. The unemployment rate of 16.2% is substantially higher than state and national averages, and the participation rate of 31.6% is low, with 1,334 residents recorded as not in the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $462, placing the workforce well below average national earnings.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.4%
Part-time
22.4%
Participation
31.6%
Employed
658
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
43.0%
Dwellings
919
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme: 85.9% of residents drive to work, compared with a national average far lower, while only 4.1% use public transport and 1.0% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. Need-for-assistance runs at 11.3% (337 residents), above typical suburban averages, which aligns with the below-average incomes and elevated unemployment rate of 16.2%. Rent-to-income at 25.9% keeps the cost of renting manageable for tenants, a meaningful buffer given that household incomes sit at the 22.3rd percentile nationally. Volunteering at 5.6% is low, and mortgage stress affects a meaningful share of owners, reflecting the mismatch between $892,000 median prices and incomes that rank well below the national median.
Drive
85.9%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heckenberg compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heckenberg a good suburb to live in?
Heckenberg suits large families seeking detached housing at a lower price than many Sydney suburbs. The median house price of $892,000 is high relative to local incomes, which sit at the 22.3rd percentile nationally. Amenities are car-dependent with 85.9% of residents driving to work. Unemployment at 16.2% is elevated compared to state and national averages, which is worth considering.
What is the median house price in Heckenberg?
The median house price is $892,000 based on 2024-2025 data, up from $875,000 in 2024 to $951,000 in 2025, an annual rise of 8.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850. Weekly rent is $300, implying a gross yield of around 1.7% for investors.
What schools are in Heckenberg?
No schools are recorded within the Heckenberg suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the 2168 postcode area. University qualifications among residents reach 19.2%, which is 10.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and services-oriented workforce.
Is Heckenberg safe?
Crime statistics specific to Heckenberg are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has an unemployment rate of 16.2%, above state and national averages, and household incomes at the 22.3rd percentile nationally. These socioeconomic factors are commonly associated with elevated crime risk in comparable Western Sydney suburbs.
Is Heckenberg good for property investment?
The 50.5% renter majority provides a deep tenant pool above the national average for detached-house suburbs. Weekly rent of $300 against an $892,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.7%, below typical investor thresholds. The 6.7% vacancy rate is elevated, and the 8.7% price growth from 2024 to 2025 shows capital appreciation potential, though mortgage stress at 36.9% may limit buyer competition.
How is Heckenberg's population changing?
The suburb holds 3,263 residents across 0.93 square kilometres, giving a density of 3,515 per square kilometre. The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, pointing to a young and growing resident base. Recent development approvals for secondary dwellings and dual occupancy suggest gradual infill growth rather than large new housing estates.
What languages are spoken in Heckenberg?
With 43% of residents born overseas, 21.4 percentage points above the national figure, Heckenberg has a strongly multicultural population. Arabic is the most common non-English language with 349 speakers, followed by Khmer (45), Hindi (44) and Samoan (35). The top ancestry groups include Vietnamese (486) and Lebanese (429), reflecting communities well established in south-western Sydney.
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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