NSW 2232 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Kirrawee

Kirrawee's standout profile is a compact Sutherland Shire suburb of 11,007 people at 3,085.4 residents per sq km, with household income in the 77.9 national percentile. Compared with nearby Sutherland and Gymea, it reads as more residential and car-dependent, because 82.8% of commuters drive while 6.9% use public transport. Education is a clear strength, with 38.3% university qualified, 8.2 percentage points above national, and housing is split between 49.7% separate houses and 34.7% apartments.

Kirrawee urban fabric map

Population

11,007

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,070/wk

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

111

Median House

$1.3M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

3.57 km²· 3,085.4 people/km²· Family income $2,613/wk

Homebuyers face a higher entry price than many mortgage-belt areas, with a PSI median house price of $1,333,000 and the latest 2025 quarter at $1,400,000. The trade-off is housing choice: 49.7% separate houses, 15.3% semi-detached dwellings and 34.7% apartments, so downsizers and first-home buyers are not limited to freestanding stock. Mortgage costs sit at 29.0% of income, below stress settings, helped by household income of $2,070 a week in the 77.9 percentile nationally.

For Buyers

Homebuyers face a higher entry price than many mortgage-belt areas, with a PSI median house price of $1,333,000 and the latest 2025 quarter at $1,400,000. The trade-off is housing choice: 49.7% separate houses, 15.3% semi-detached dwellings and 34.7% apartments, so downsizers and first-home buyers are not limited to freestanding stock. Mortgage costs sit at 29.0% of income, below stress settings, helped by household income of $2,070 a week in the 77.9 percentile nationally.

For Investors

Investor appeal is led by depth of demand rather than very tight vacancy. Renters make up 30.8% of households, compared with 38.8% paying a mortgage and 30.3% owned outright, while median rent is $500 a week. A 7.4% vacancy rate is a caution because it is higher than a tight-market setting, but 100 development applications in 12 months point to renewal and tradie activity. Forecast rent growth of 27.8% supports the income story if new supply is absorbed.

Development Activity

Total DAs

595

Last 12 Months

111

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+9.9%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
72
Demolition
34
Swimming Pool / Spa
30
Subdivision
26
Commercial / Industrial
14
New Dwelling
11
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
9
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
6

Schools in Kirrawee iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Kirrawee High School

ICSEA 1092 Secondary Government

7-12 · 1185 students

Kirrawee Public School

ICSEA 1050 Primary Government

K-6 · 326 students

Demographics

Kirrawee sits close to the national age profile, with a median age of 39, or 1.0 year below national. Educational attainment is stronger than average: 38.3% hold university qualifications, 8.2 percentage points above national. Overseas birth is moderate at 22.8%, 1.2 points above national, so local culture is shaped more by long-settled ancestry than recent migration. English ancestry leads with 4,125 people, followed by Irish at 1,310 and Scottish at 1,017, alongside smaller Mandarin, Cantonese and Greek language groups.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.3%
15-24
11.1%
25-44
28.3%
45-64
23.2%
65+
19.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
10.7%
2 bed
25.6%
3 bed
39.6%
4+ bed
24.1%

Dwelling Structure

49.7%

Houses

15.3%

Townhouse

34.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 30.3% Mortgage 38.8% Rent 30.8%

Kirrawee's housing market is at its latest recorded high: the median moved from $1,250,588 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025, an 11.9% rise with 0.0% fall from peak to latest. The dwelling mix is more balanced than a pure detached-house suburb because 49.7% are separate houses, 34.7% apartments and 15.3% semi-detached. Tenure is also even, with 30.3% owned outright, 38.8% mortgaged and 30.8% renting. Bedroom stock centres on 3 bedrooms at 39.6%, suiting families but keeping 2-bedroom options at 25.6%.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,600

Rent / wk

$500

HH Size

2.5

Personal Income / wk

$995

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

7.4%

Unoccupied

336

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

24.2%

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

29.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
124
Canton
85
Greek
55
Arabic
51
Portuguese
44
Russian
38

Ancestry

English
4,125
Irish
1,310
Other
1,175
Scottish
1,017
Chinese
637
Ancestry NS
563

Household Composition

24.5%

Couples, no children

8,777

Total families

Economy & Employment

Kirrawee's economy ranks above average on education and advantage, with IEO and IRSAD both in decile 8, while economic resources are lower at IER decile 6. That gap makes sense because high-skill workers also carry Sydney housing costs. Healthcare is the top industry at 15.3% and 616 workers, followed by Education at 11.7%, Professional/Tech at 11.4%, Construction at 9.9% and Public Admin at 8.1%. Professionals number 1,532, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 871 and Managers at 813, while unemployment is low at 3.6%.

Unemployment

4.1%

Labour Force

15,103

Unemployed

615

Quarterly Trend

Mar-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
8
Disadvantage
8
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

67.2%

Part-time

29.2%

Participation

56.9%

Employed

4,933

Occupations

Professionals 1,532
Clerical/Admin 871
Managers 813
Community/Personal 575
Sales 434
Labourers 301
Machinery/Drivers 210

Top Industries

Healthcare 15.3%
Education 11.7%
Professional/Tech 11.4%
Construction 9.9%
Public Admin 8.1%

University

38.3%

Postgraduate

9.2%

Born Overseas

22.8%

Dwellings

4,202

Transport to Work

Kirrawee works best for households comfortable with car use, because 82.8% of commuters drive, well above the 6.9% using public transport and 5.2% walking or cycling. The local school base is compact but strong: 2 Government schools, led by Kirrawee High School with ICSEA 1092 and 1,185 students, plus Kirrawee Public School with ICSEA 1050 and 326 students. That 1050-1092 ICSEA range sits above national expectations, while IRSAD decile 8 points to broader social advantage.

Drive

82.8%

Public Transport

6.9%

Walk / Cycle

5.2%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.24%/yr

(+308 people/yr)

Established

Kirrawee's growth outlook is steady rather than explosive, with trend growth of 1.24% a year, equal to about 308 additional people annually. The primary driver is overseas migration, averaging +221 people a year, compared with +86 from internal migration. The medium scenario moves from 24,905 people in 2026 to 26,446 in 2031. Gentrification is labelled Active with a score of 44, because population is up 24% since 2011 and rent growth of 27.8% is running ahead of only modest young-share change of -0.3.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+221

Net Internal / yr

+86

44

Gentrification Signal

Active

Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +86/yr, Strong overseas inflow +221/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 16%

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

How Kirrawee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Top 22%
Rent Level
Top 6%
Apartments
Top 11%
Renters
Top 27%
Uni Educated
Top 20%
Public Transport
Top 22%
Born Overseas
Top 24%
Density
Top 3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kirrawee a good suburb to live in?

Yes, especially for households wanting Sutherland Shire access, 2 local Government schools and a high education profile. It is car-oriented, with 82.8% of commuters driving, so it suits buyers comfortable relying on a vehicle.

What is the median house price in Kirrawee?

Kirrawee's PSI median house price is $1,333,000, while the latest 2025 quarter in the price series is $1,400,000. Prices rose 11.9% from 2024 to 2025, so budget buffers matter.

What schools are in Kirrawee?

Kirrawee has 2 local Government schools: Kirrawee High School, a secondary school with ICSEA 1092 and 1,185 enrolments, and Kirrawee Public School, a primary school with ICSEA 1050 and 326 enrolments.

Is Kirrawee safe?

A current suburb crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked street by street and with NSW Police updates. Residential stability is supported by 30.3% outright ownership, 2 local schools and 11,007 residents.

Is Kirrawee good for property investment?

Kirrawee can suit investors who accept a 7.4% vacancy risk in exchange for 30.8% renter households, $500 weekly median rent and 100 development applications over 12 months. Demand is helped by forecast overseas migration of 221 people a year.

How is Kirrawee's population changing?

Kirrawee's resident base is growing in the forecast area, with trend growth of 1.24% or 308 people a year. The medium path rises from 24,905 in 2026 to 26,446 in 2031, led by overseas migration of 221 people annually.

What development is happening in Kirrawee?

Development activity is high, with 100 applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision, commercial development and swimming pool examples. That level is above a low-change suburb and points to ongoing renewal rather than a static housing market.

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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