Hornsby
Apartment living and overseas-born households define Hornsby more than the usual north-side family-house image. Of 22,462 residents, 53.8% were born overseas, which is 32.2 percentage points above the national share, and apartments make up 59.1% of dwellings vs 35.3% separate houses. Compared with nearby Asquith and Wahroonga, Hornsby reads more like the area's apartment and service hub because density, rail commuting and retail access pull demand into a smaller 8.38 sq km footprint. Household income sits at the 73.3 percentile, supporting a strong but not ultra-luxury local market.
Population
22,462
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,952/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
142
Median House
$752K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Hornsby suits buyers who want north-side access without relying on a large detached block. Separate houses are 35.3% of stock, while apartments are much higher at 59.1%, so two-bedroom homes dominate at 47.2% of dwellings. The median house price is $752,000, and the typical mortgage is $2,240 a month, with mortgage costs at 26.5% of income. That is below common stress thresholds, partly because household income is $1,952 a week. Families needing 4 or more bedrooms face thinner choice at 19.2% of stock.
For Buyers
Hornsby suits buyers who want north-side access without relying on a large detached block. Separate houses are 35.3% of stock, while apartments are much higher at 59.1%, so two-bedroom homes dominate at 47.2% of dwellings. The median house price is $752,000, and the typical mortgage is $2,240 a month, with mortgage costs at 26.5% of income. That is below common stress thresholds, partly because household income is $1,952 a week. Families needing 4 or more bedrooms face thinner choice at 19.2% of stock.
For Investors
Rental demand is a central part of Hornsby's market: 44.1% of households rent, and the median rent is $440 a week. Vacancy is 7.3%, higher than landlords usually prefer, so pricing and presentation matter more than in very tight markets. The demand base is supported by overseas migration, with an average net inflow of 466 people a year compared with a net internal outflow of 365. Development is active, with 131 applications in 12 months, which can refresh supply but also adds competition for apartments.
Development Activity
Total DAs
799
Last 12 Months
142
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-0.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hornsby iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hornsby Girls High School
7-12 · 722 students
Barker College
K-12 · 2856 students
Hornsby North Public School
K-6 · 937 students
Hornsby South Public School
K-6 · 534 students
Blue Gum Community School
K-2 · 21 students
Demographics
Hornsby is internationally connected, educated and relatively young for a north-side centre. The median age is 38, which is 2.0 years below the national benchmark, while 58.1% of residents hold a university qualification, 28.0 percentage points above national levels. The overseas-born share is 53.8%, with Chinese ancestry at 5,226 residents and Indian ancestry at 1,477. Mandarin is spoken by 1,466 people, followed by Cantonese at 551 and Nepali at 540, which helps explain the strong apartment and transport-oriented household mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
35.3%
Houses
5.5%
Townhouse
59.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Hornsby's housing market is apartment-led, but ownership remains mixed rather than purely transient. The latest price series moved from $750,000 in 2024 to $756,800 in 2025, a 0.9% rise, with the 2025 figure also the peak and 0.0% below peak. Tenure is split between 23.4% owned outright, 32.5% with a mortgage and 44.1% renting. Smaller homes are common, with 10.5% having 0 or 1 bedroom and 47.2% having 2 bedrooms, because higher-density stock sits around transport and services.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,240
Rent / wk
$440
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$890
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
686
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.3%
Couples, no children
17,926
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hornsby's workforce leans professional and service-based, which is consistent with its above-average education levels. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.1%, followed by Professional/Tech at 16.2%, Education at 10.4%, Finance at 9.0% and Retail at 7.6%. Professionals number 4,151, well ahead of Clerical/Admin at 1,457 and Managers at 1,395. SEIFA shows the split clearly: IEO is decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8, but IER is lower at decile 5, indicating strong qualifications alongside more mixed household resources.
Unemployment
8.7%
Labour Force
7,764
Unemployed
675
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
59.5%
Employed
10,444
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.1%
Postgraduate
19.7%
Born Overseas
53.8%
Dwellings
8,659
Transport to Work
Hornsby's livability is strongest for households wanting schools, transport choice and above-average socio-economic conditions in one centre. Six local schools range from ICSEA 1104 to 1209, led by Hornsby Girls High School at 1209, Barker College at 1166 and Hornsby North Public School at 1148, spanning Government and Independent sectors. Commuting is still car-led at 65.0%, but 16.4% use public transport and 12.7% walk or cycle. IRSAD decile 8 points to higher amenity capacity than the average suburb.
Drive
65.0%
Public Transport
16.4%
Walk / Cycle
12.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.88%/yr
(+113 people/yr)
EstablishedHornsby is forecast to grow steadily rather than rapidly, with annual population growth of 0.88%, equal to about 113 people a year. The medium trend path reaches 13,497 residents by 2031, compared with 12,798 in 2025. Migration is the key driver: average net overseas migration is 466 a year, while average net internal migration is minus 365. The shift profile is aging, with senior share up 3.4 points and young share down 0.7 points. Gentrification is scored 25 and remains at the Early signs stage.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+466
Net Internal / yr
-365
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -365/yr, Strong overseas inflow +466/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hornsby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hornsby a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Hornsby suits many households because it combines 6 local schools, 16.4% public transport commuting and IRSAD decile 8 conditions. It is more apartment-focused than many nearby north-side suburbs, so it works best for buyers comfortable with higher-density living.
What is the median house price in Hornsby?
The median house price in Hornsby is $752,000. The short price series rose from $750,000 in 2024 to $756,800 in 2025, a 0.9% increase, so recent movement has been modest rather than sharply cyclical.
What schools are in Hornsby?
Hornsby has 6 local schools. Leading examples include Hornsby Girls High School with ICSEA 1209 and 722 enrolments, Barker College with ICSEA 1166 and 2,856 enrolments, and Hornsby North Public School with ICSEA 1148.
Is Hornsby safe?
A suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available. For practical context, Hornsby records IRSAD decile 8 and has 6 local schools, but buyers should still check street-level conditions around specific apartment blocks, stations and shopping areas.
Is Hornsby good for property investment?
Hornsby has investor appeal because 44.1% of households rent and median rent is $440 a week. The 7.3% vacancy rate is a caution, so investors need to compare similar apartments carefully and avoid overpaying for undifferentiated stock.
How is Hornsby's population changing?
Hornsby is growing gradually, with forecast annual growth of 0.88%, or about 113 people a year. The medium path reaches 13,497 residents by 2031, supported by average net overseas migration of 466 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Hornsby?
Hornsby has a large multilingual population, with 53.8% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is spoken by 1,466 people, Cantonese by 551, Nepali by 540, Korean by 355 and Hindi by 268.
Is there much development in Hornsby?
Yes, development activity is high, with 131 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include subdivision and new dwelling applications in 2026, which indicates ongoing renewal alongside the existing apartment-heavy housing base.
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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