Kogarah
Apartments define Kogarah more than houses: 71.3% of dwellings are apartments, while separate houses are only 20.9%. Compared with nearby Carlton and Rockdale, Kogarah's standout is intensity, with 16,416 residents on 2.6 sq km and density of 6,325 people per sq km. The suburb also has a renter majority at 50.0% and a strongly international profile, with 61.8% born overseas, 40.2 percentage points above the national level. Household income sits in the 71.1 percentile, so demand is supported by above average earning capacity as well as transport and service access.
Population
16,416
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,903/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$750K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Kogarah suits buyers who want a compact, unit-led market rather than a detached-house suburb. The median house price is $750,000, while the latest price point moved from $765,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, a 3.3% fall from peak to latest. That lower entry point matters because apartments make up 71.3% of stock and 56.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage payments of $2,200 equal 26.7% of income, below common stress settings, so affordability is supported for households comfortable with density.
For Buyers
Kogarah suits buyers who want a compact, unit-led market rather than a detached-house suburb. The median house price is $750,000, while the latest price point moved from $765,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, a 3.3% fall from peak to latest. That lower entry point matters because apartments make up 71.3% of stock and 56.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage payments of $2,200 equal 26.7% of income, below common stress settings, so affordability is supported for households comfortable with density.
For Investors
Kogarah is rental-heavy, with 50.0% of households renting, higher than the 22.3% owned outright and 27.7% mortgaged shares. Weekly rent is $450 and rent-to-income is 23.6%, which helps tenant affordability because it sits below typical stress thresholds. The caution is vacancy: 11.0% is high, so leasing competition may be sharper than in tighter markets. Development activity is also elevated, with 55 applications over 12 months, meaning investors need to watch new supply as well as demand from overseas migration of 601 people a year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
328
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+32.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kogarah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St George Girls High School
7-12 · 908 students
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 416 students
Kogarah Public School
K-6 · 456 students
Moorefield Girls High School
7-12 · 372 students
James Cook Boys High School
7-12 · 473 students
Demographics
Kogarah is younger and more highly educated than Australia overall. The median age is 35, which is 5.0 years below the national benchmark, while 53.1% hold a university qualification, 23.0 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 61.8%, 40.2 points above national, shaping everyday demand for multilingual services and apartment living. Major ancestry and language groups include Chinese at 2,700 people, Greek at 1,099, Nepali at 1,068 speakers and Mandarin at 563 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
20.9%
Houses
6.9%
Townhouse
71.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is skewed toward apartments and renters, not traditional family blocks. Apartments account for 71.3% of dwellings, compared with 20.9% separate houses and 6.9% semi-detached homes. The price series is short but clear: the house median moved from $765,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, with the same $765,000 peak and $740,000 trough, a 3.3% decline. Tenure is split between 22.3% owned outright, 27.7% with a mortgage and 50.0% renting, while 2-bedroom homes dominate at 56.9%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$871
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.0%
Unoccupied
762
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
12,013
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kogarah's workforce is anchored by services, with healthcare at 23.1% of employed residents, higher than professional and tech at 12.9%, retail at 9.2%, finance at 7.8% and hospitality at 6.7%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,386 people, followed by clerical and admin at 992 and community and personal service at 985. The SEIFA pattern is mixed: education and occupation ranks in decile 8, but economic resources sit in decile 2, while disadvantage is decile 5 and overall advantage is decile 7. That gap fits a skilled but renter-heavy area.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
10,580
Unemployed
188
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
7,158
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.1%
Postgraduate
17.5%
Born Overseas
61.8%
Dwellings
6,140
Transport to Work
Kogarah's livability rests on rail-oriented density, walkability and a strong school cluster. Public transport is used by 23.2% of commuters, while 14.5% walk or cycle and 57.2% drive, so the suburb is less car-dependent than many outer areas. There are 6 local schools across Government and Catholic sectors, with ICSEA values from 993 to 1148. St George Girls High School leads at 1148 with 908 students, followed by St Patrick's Catholic Primary at 1117 and Kogarah Public at 1087. IRSAD decile 7 indicates above average social advantage.
Drive
57.2%
Public Transport
23.2%
Walk / Cycle
14.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.15%/yr
(+331 people/yr)
EstablishedKogarah's growth outlook is active but uneven. The medium trend path points to 2.15% annual growth, or about 331 people a year, lifting population from 15,280 in 2026 to 16,936 by 2031. Migration is the main engine because overseas migration averages +601 people a year, higher than the internal movement loss of -101 a year. The gentrification score is 42 and the stage is Active, while the shift profile shows 25.4% rent growth and 26.2% real income growth. Population has already changed by 35.8% over 10 years.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+601
Net Internal / yr
-101
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +51% since 2011, Net internal outflow -101/yr, Strong overseas inflow +601/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 30%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kogarah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kogarah a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Kogarah works well for people who value transport, schools and dense services. It has 16,416 residents in 2.6 sq km, 23.2% public transport commuting and 6 local schools, so daily life is practical if apartment living suits you.
What is the median house price in Kogarah?
The median house price in Kogarah is $750,000. The recent price series moved from $765,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, a 3.3% fall, so buyers should check current listings closely.
What schools are in Kogarah?
Kogarah has 6 local schools, including St George Girls High School with ICSEA 1148 and 908 students, St Patrick's Catholic Primary with ICSEA 1117, and Kogarah Public School with ICSEA 1087.
Is Kogarah safe?
Safety should be checked against recent NSW BOCSAR maps rather than inferred from price or density. Kogarah covers 2.6 sq km and has 14.5% walking or cycling to work, so busy local streets are part of the everyday setting.
Is Kogarah good for property investment?
Kogarah has investor appeal because 50.0% of households rent and weekly rent is $450. The main caution is the 11.0% vacancy rate, which can soften leasing power if new supply from 55 recent development applications reaches market.
How is Kogarah's population changing?
Kogarah is growing, with a projected annual trend of 2.15%, or about 331 people a year. Overseas migration is the main driver at +601 people a year, offset by internal movement of -101 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Kogarah?
Kogarah is highly multilingual, with 61.8% of residents born overseas. Key non-English language groups include Nepali with 1,068 speakers, Mandarin with 563, Greek with 379, Cantonese with 378 and Bengali with 355.
Is there much development in Kogarah?
Yes, development activity is notable, with 55 applications recorded over 12 months. That level matters in an apartment-heavy suburb where 71.3% of dwellings are already apartments and vacancy is 11.0%.
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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