NSW 2142 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Holroyd

With 59.5% of residents born overseas, Holroyd sits 37.9 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Western Sydney's most internationally composed suburbs. Packed into just 0.5 square kilometres at a density of 2,475 people per km2, it functions as an entry-point suburb: 50.2% of households rent, median age is 33 (seven years below national), and university qualifications reach 55.3%, some 25 points above national. The IRSD disadvantage decile of 1 places Holroyd in the bottom 10% nationally for relative advantage, yet household income sits at the 70.7th percentile, a gap explained by large household sizes and multiple earners rather than high individual wages.

Holroyd urban fabric map

Population

1,248

Median Age

33.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,893/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

7

Median House

$618K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

0.5 km²· 2,475.2 people/km²· Family income $2,020/wk

The median house price is $618,000, derived from PSI data, and recent price history shows movement from $608,000 in 2024 to $633,250 in 2025, a 4.2% gain over one year. That affordability compares favourably against broader Greater Sydney medians, making Holroyd accessible to first-home buyers priced out of inner suburbs. The housing stock is dominated by apartments at 68.8%, with separate houses at only 17.8% and semi-detached homes at 13.4%. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings each account for roughly 41-42% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,166, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, a meaningful buffer for buyers entering at current prices.

For Buyers

The median house price is $618,000, derived from PSI data, and recent price history shows movement from $608,000 in 2024 to $633,250 in 2025, a 4.2% gain over one year. That affordability compares favourably against broader Greater Sydney medians, making Holroyd accessible to first-home buyers priced out of inner suburbs. The housing stock is dominated by apartments at 68.8%, with separate houses at only 17.8% and semi-detached homes at 13.4%. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings each account for roughly 41-42% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,166, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, a meaningful buffer for buyers entering at current prices.

For Investors

A renter majority of 50.2% provides a deep and persistent tenant base, with weekly rent averaging $450. Against the $618,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 3.8%, above what most inner-Sydney apartments deliver. The vacancy rate of 9.0% is elevated and warrants attention: apartment-dominant suburbs with high overseas migrant turnover can carry structural oversupply in certain bedroom sizes. Overseas migration drives net population growth at approximately 610 new arrivals annually, while net internal outflow of 207 per year reflects a natural churn pattern typical of entry-point suburbs. Development applications totalled 5 over the past 12 months, low enough to suggest limited near-term new supply risk. The combination of strong overseas-driven demand and constrained new supply supports the rental market over the medium term.

Development Activity

Total DAs

22

Last 12 Months

7

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+250.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Demolition
3
Swimming Pool / Spa
2
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
2
Change of Use
1
Renovation / Extension
1

Demographics

The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, driven by high overseas migration inflows that consistently bring working-age arrivals. At 59.5%, the overseas-born share is 37.9 percentage points above national. The largest ancestry groups are Indian (133 residents), Chinese (130) and English (117), and the three most spoken non-English languages are Arabic (49 speakers), Urdu (48) and Mandarin (33), reflecting a South Asian and Middle Eastern composition that distinguishes Holroyd from Chinese-majority pockets nearby. Islam (379 residents) is the largest single religion, followed by Christianity (346) and Hinduism (124). University-qualified residents account for 55.3% of the population, which is 25.2 points above the national average, concentrated in the Professionals occupational group (138 workers) and consistent with the suburban migration profile of skilled-visa holders.

Age Distribution

0-14
22.4%
15-24
8.3%
25-44
44.1%
45-64
16.8%
65+
8.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.8%
2 bed
42.1%
3 bed
41.1%
4+ bed
13.1%

Dwelling Structure

17.8%

Houses

13.4%

Townhouse

68.8%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 14.3% Mortgage 35.5% Rent 50.2%

Holroyd's tenure structure strongly favours renting: 50.2% of households rent, 35.5% carry a mortgage and only 14.3% own outright, well below the national ownership norms. The low outright-ownership rate reflects the suburb's young, migrant-majority population where wealth accumulation is at an earlier stage compared to established suburbs. Apartments make up 68.8% of dwellings, which places Holroyd firmly in the high-density category for Western Sydney. Two-bedroom units dominate at 42.1%, followed by three-bedrooms at 41.1%. House prices rose from $608,000 in 2024 to $633,250 in 2025, a 4.2% increase, with the peak price reaching $633,250 in 2025. Rent-to-income sits at 23.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters as a group are not under acute financial pressure relative to their incomes at the 70.7th percentile nationally.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,166

Rent / wk

$450

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$854

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

9.0%

Unoccupied

41

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Arabic
49
Urdu
48
Mandarin
33
Hindi
30
Nepali
21
Canton
20

Ancestry

Other
530
Indian
133
Chinese
130
English
117
Ancestry NS
98
Lebanese
77

Household Composition

22.0%

Couples, no children

1,015

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 17.5% (68 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 13.4% (52), Finance at 8.7% (34) and Public Admin at 8.7% (34), with Construction rounding out the top five at 7.2% (28 workers). By occupation, Professionals form the largest group (138), ahead of Clerical/Admin (78) and Managers (68), a pattern consistent with the 55.3% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate of 9.2% is elevated compared to metropolitan averages, and the labour force participation rate of 49.0% is low, in part because a significant share of residents (349 not in the labour force) are students or recent arrivals not yet fully active in the market. The IRSD decile of 1 reflects a concentration of relative disadvantage, yet household income at the 70.7th percentile nationally signals that larger household sizes and multiple earners offset individual income constraints.

Unemployment

10.3%

Labour Force

12,743

Unemployed

1,315

Quarterly Trend

Jun-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
3
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
2
Education & occupation
5

Full-time

71.8%

Part-time

19.0%

Participation

49.0%

Employed

433

Occupations

Professionals 138
Clerical/Admin 78
Managers 68
Community/Personal 54
Machinery/Drivers 35
Sales 34
Labourers 32

Top Industries

Healthcare 17.5%
Professional/Tech 13.4%
Finance 8.7%
Public Admin 8.7%
Construction 7.2%

University

55.3%

Postgraduate

19.4%

Born Overseas

59.5%

Dwellings

410

Transport to Work

Holroyd is heavily car-dependent, with 78.5% of residents driving to work, compared to higher public-transport usage in inner Sydney. Public transport accounts for 10.8% and walking or cycling 5.4%. No schools are recorded within the 0.5 square kilometre boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Merrylands and Granville. Crime data is not available in this dataset, limiting direct safety comparisons. The IRSAD decile of 3 places the suburb below average nationally for combined advantage and disadvantage. On the positive side, housing stress remains manageable: rent-to-income at 23.8% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, providing financial stability relative to many higher-cost Sydney suburbs. The volunteering rate of 8.9% is modest, and 4.7% of residents (55 people) require daily assistance.

Drive

78.5%

Public Transport

10.8%

Walk / Cycle

5.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.45%/yr

(+392 people/yr)

Established

Population in the broader SA2 area grew 20.7% over the past decade, with historical counts rising from 24,912 in 2023 to 27,002 in 2025. Medium-scenario forecasts project the area reaching 28,506 by 2031, adding approximately 392 persons per year at a 1.45% annual growth rate. The primary driver is overseas migration at a net 610 arrivals annually, which more than offsets the net internal outflow of 207 per year. Rent growth of 23.1% over the period alongside a gentrification score of 35 places Holroyd at the early-signs stage of gentrification, with signals including 30% population growth since 2011, an accelerating university-educated share from 9% to 19%, and sustained high-skill overseas arrivals. Affordability has been improving, with the affordability index moving from 73.9 in 2011 to 63.5 in 2021, suggesting Holroyd is becoming relatively more accessible compared to rising state-wide benchmarks.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+610

Net Internal / yr

-207

35

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +30% since 2011, Net internal outflow -207/yr, Strong overseas inflow +610/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 19%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Holroyd compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Top 29%
Rent Level
Top 10%
Apartments
Top 4%
Renters
Top 9%
Uni Educated
Top 6%
Public Transport
Top 10%
Born Overseas
Top 1%
Density
Top 6%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Holroyd a good suburb to live in?

Holroyd offers affordable entry at a $618,000 median house price, well below broader Greater Sydney, with household income at the 70.7th percentile nationally. The suburb suits younger renters and migrants, with 55.3% holding university qualifications. Trade-offs include an IRSD disadvantage decile of 1 (bottom 10% nationally) and limited schools within the 0.5 km2 boundary.

What is the median house price in Holroyd?

The median house price is $618,000 based on PSI-derived data. Prices rose from $608,000 in 2024 to $633,250 in 2025, a 4.2% gain. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,166, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%.

What schools are in Holroyd?

No schools are recorded within the Holroyd boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers only 0.5 square kilometres, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas such as Merrylands and Granville. Notably, 55.3% of Holroyd residents hold university qualifications, which is 25.2 points above the national average.

Is Holroyd safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Holroyd in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the IRSD decile of 1 places the suburb in the bottom 10% nationally for relative advantage, which can correlate with higher crime exposure in some contexts. The household income at the 70.7th percentile nationally is a partially offsetting factor.

Is Holroyd good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $450 against a $618,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, higher than many inner-Sydney markets. The 50.2% renter majority provides a deep tenant pool, driven by net overseas migration of 610 arrivals annually. The vacancy rate of 9.0% is elevated, so apartment selection within the 68.8% apartment-dominant stock requires care.

How is Holroyd's population changing?

The broader area grew 20.7% over the past decade, with population rising from 24,912 in 2023 to 27,002 in 2025. Medium forecasts project 28,506 residents by 2031, adding around 392 per year. Overseas migration at net 610 annually is the primary driver, offsetting net internal outflow of 207 per year.

What languages are spoken in Holroyd?

At 59.5% born overseas, Holroyd sits 37.9 percentage points above the national average. The top non-English languages are Arabic (49 speakers), Urdu (48), Mandarin (33) and Hindi (30), reflecting predominantly South Asian and Middle Eastern migration patterns alongside a smaller Chinese-speaking community.

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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