NSW 2229 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Lilli Pilli

Household income in the 99.2nd percentile nationally sets the tone for Lilli Pilli, a compact 0.61 km2 suburb in Sydney's southern reaches where median house prices sit at $2,080,000. What makes the profile stand out is the ownership structure: 51.1% of residents own their home outright, meaning the majority carry no mortgage at all, a ratio far above typical Australian suburbs. University qualifications reach 47.6%, some 17.5 percentage points above the national average, and the median age of 44 is 4 years older than the national figure, pointing to an established, high-income, owner-occupier community with very low transience.

Lilli Pilli urban fabric map

Population

1,405

Median Age

44.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$3,625/wk

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

29

Median House

$2.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

0.61 km²· 2,314.7 people/km²· Family income $3,690/wk

At $2,080,000, the median house price places Lilli Pilli well above Sydney's broader median. The price moved from $1,670,000 in 2024 to $2,315,000 in 2025, a 38.6% rise in a single year, though this figure reflects a small market and should be read with care. Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of dwellings, with 72.7% having four or more bedrooms, reflecting large family homes rather than apartment stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price. Only 4.7% of residents rent, which means buyers are rarely competing with investor-driven churn.

For Buyers

At $2,080,000, the median house price places Lilli Pilli well above Sydney's broader median. The price moved from $1,670,000 in 2024 to $2,315,000 in 2025, a 38.6% rise in a single year, though this figure reflects a small market and should be read with care. Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of dwellings, with 72.7% having four or more bedrooms, reflecting large family homes rather than apartment stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price. Only 4.7% of residents rent, which means buyers are rarely competing with investor-driven churn.

For Investors

The investment case for Lilli Pilli is constrained by thin rental demand. Just 4.7% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national renter share of around 30%, and weekly rent averages $900. Against a $2,080,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.3%, which is low relative to the capital required. The vacancy rate of 2.7% is moderate. Development activity recorded 27 applications over 12 months, including secondary dwellings and alterations, suggesting the suburb is slowly adding supply at the margins. With 82.5% of residents remaining at the same address over five years, turnover is extremely low, meaning opportunities to purchase arise infrequently.

Development Activity

Total DAs

123

Last 12 Months

29

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+45.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
24
New Dwelling
7
Demolition
7
Garage / Carport / Shed
4
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
2
Subdivision
1
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1

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

Lilli Pilli Public School

ICSEA 1113 Primary Government

K-6 · 323 students

Demographics

The median age of 44 sits 4 years above the national figure, and household composition reflects this: 545 couples have children versus 295 couples without, and average household size reaches 3.2, which is 0.7 above national. University qualifications at 47.6% run 17.5 percentage points higher than the national average. Ancestry leans heavily Anglo-Celtic, led by English (659 residents), Irish (227) and Scottish (174). Overseas-born residents make up just 12.0% of the population, which is 9.6 percentage points below the national figure. Volunteering reaches 19.0% of residents, indicating a community with both time and civic engagement, consistent with the high outright ownership and settled tenure profile.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.9%
15-24
15.6%
25-44
15.9%
45-64
31.1%
65+
19.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
N/A
2 bed
2.3%
3 bed
25.1%
4+ bed
72.7%

Dwelling Structure

94.8%

Houses

5.2%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 51.1% Mortgage 44.2% Rent 4.7%

Lilli Pilli's housing stock is unusually homogenous: 94.8% are separate houses and 72.7% have four or more bedrooms, with only 5.2% semi-detached and no meaningful apartment share. Tenure is dominated by outright ownership at 51.1%, with 44.2% carrying a mortgage and only 4.7% renting. This is a market where debt-free, long-term owners hold most of the stock. The median house price rose from $1,670,000 in 2024 to $2,315,000 in 2025, and the current period price is reported at $2,080,000. Mortgage-to-income at 25.5% and rent-to-income at 24.8% both sit below stress thresholds. The 2-bedroom segment is minimal at 2.3%, confirming that large family homes define almost the entire local stock.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$4,000

Rent / wk

$900

HH Size

3.2

Personal Income / wk

$1,186

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

2.7%

Unoccupied

12

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

24.8%

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

25.5%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
13
Macedon
12

Ancestry

English
659
Irish
227
Scottish
174
Other
96
Italian
92
Greek
63

Household Composition

22.4%

Couples, no children

1,317

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local workforce concentrates in high-value knowledge industries: Professional and Technical services leads at 14.6% (80 workers), followed by Education at 13.3% (73) and Healthcare at 13.0% (71). Construction represents 12.1% and Finance 6.8%. By occupation, Professionals (240) and Managers (177) are the top two categories. Unemployment is just 2.0%, lower than the national average of around 4%, and the full-time employment rate reaches 57.2%. Household income at the 99.2nd percentile nationally reflects a workforce skewed toward senior, credentialed roles. Personal weekly income averages $1,186 and family weekly income $3,690.

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

Full-time

57.2%

Part-time

40.8%

Participation

60.5%

Employed

676

Occupations

Professionals 240
Managers 177
Clerical/Admin 105
Community/Personal 59
Sales 57
Labourers 32
Machinery/Drivers 12

Top Industries

Professional/Tech 14.6%
Education 13.3%
Healthcare 13.0%
Construction 12.1%
Finance 6.8%

University

47.6%

Postgraduate

13.3%

Born Overseas

12.0%

Dwellings

439

Transport to Work

Car dependence is pronounced: 92.5% of residents drive to work, well above the national car-commuting rate, and only 1.2% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on surrounding suburbs for education. Crime data is not available for Lilli Pilli in this dataset, though the 99.2nd-percentile household income and low rental share of 4.7% are indirect indicators of a low-disadvantage environment. Only 2.2% of residents, or 30 people, need daily assistance. Housing stress is absent by conventional measures, with mortgage-to-income at 25.5% and rent-to-income at 24.8%, both below the 30% threshold. The compact 0.61 km2 footprint means most amenities are accessed in neighbouring, larger suburbs.

Drive

92.5%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

1.2%

Work from Home

N/A

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

How Lilli Pilli compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 25%
Household Income
Top 1%
Rent Level
Top 0%
Renters
Bottom 2%
Uni Educated
Top 11%
Born Overseas
Bottom 40%
Density
Top 6%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lilli Pilli a good suburb to live in?

Lilli Pilli ranks in the 99.2nd percentile for household income nationally. University qualifications reach 47.6%, which is 17.5 percentage points above the national average, and 51.1% of residents own their home outright with no mortgage. The main trade-offs are high entry prices at a $2,080,000 median house price and very limited public transport use, with 92.5% of residents driving to work.

What is the median house price in Lilli Pilli?

The median house price is $2,080,000 based on 2024-2025 data. Prices moved from $1,670,000 in 2024 to $2,315,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,000, and weekly rent averages $900 for the small proportion of rental properties in the suburb.

What schools are in Lilli Pilli?

No schools are recorded inside the Lilli Pilli suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Sutherland Shire area. The local adult population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 47.6%, which is 17.5 percentage points above the national figure.

Is Lilli Pilli safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Lilli Pilli in this dataset. As indirect indicators, household income sits at the 99.2nd percentile nationally and only 4.7% of dwellings are rented, with 51.1% owned outright, both consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community. Only 2.2% of residents, or 30 people, need daily assistance.

Is Lilli Pilli good for property investment?

The rental market is very thin, with only 4.7% of dwellings rented compared to a national average of around 30%. Weekly rent of $900 against a $2,080,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.3%, which is low. The vacancy rate sits at 2.7%. Price growth from $1,670,000 in 2024 to $2,315,000 in 2025 was 38.6%, though the small market limits transaction volume and median reliability.

How is Lilli Pilli's population changing?

Lilli Pilli has 1,405 residents across 0.61 km2. Mobility is very low, with 82.5% of residents staying at the same address for five years, above national norms. The suburb is built-out and stable rather than growing rapidly. Development applications reached 27 in 12 months, including some secondary dwellings, suggesting incremental densification rather than major population expansion.

How much development is happening in Lilli Pilli?

There were 27 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. These include secondary dwellings, house constructions and alterations to existing structures. Given the suburb's 0.61 km2 area and 1,405 residents, 27 applications is a relatively high rate, pointing to active renovation and secondary dwelling construction by existing owners rather than new-supply development.

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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