Lindfield
A $2.025 million house median and household income in the 96.2 percentile set Lindfield apart from most Sydney markets. The suburb combines north shore wealth with a surprisingly mixed dwelling base: 52.2% separate houses and 44.4% apartments. Compared with nearby Roseville and Killara, its station village gives it a stronger unit presence while still retaining family-sized homes, with 40.2% having 4 or more bedrooms. The 44.8% overseas-born share sits 23.2 percentage points above the national level, supporting a highly educated, globally connected profile.
Population
10,943
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,833/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
115
Median House
$2.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers face a high-entry market, with the median house price at $2.025 million after 2.1% growth from 2024 to 2025. The mix is broader than many premium north shore pockets: 52.2% separate houses vs 44.4% apartments, so buyers can trade land size for station access. Larger households still have options because 40.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage repayments of $3,450 a month equal 28.1% of income, a manageable ratio compared with the suburb's 96.2 household income percentile.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a high-entry market, with the median house price at $2.025 million after 2.1% growth from 2024 to 2025. The mix is broader than many premium north shore pockets: 52.2% separate houses vs 44.4% apartments, so buyers can trade land size for station access. Larger households still have options because 40.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage repayments of $3,450 a month equal 28.1% of income, a manageable ratio compared with the suburb's 96.2 household income percentile.
For Investors
Investors get a deep but selective rental pool, with 29.2% of homes rented compared with 38.4% owned outright. Weekly rent is $600 and rent-to-income is 21.2%, so affordability is stronger for tenants than the $2.025 million purchase price suggests. Vacancy at 8.8% is the key risk because stock choice can dilute pricing power. Development activity is substantial, with 99 applications in 12 months, while overseas migration averages +537 people a year against a -355 internal outflow.
Development Activity
Total DAs
536
Last 12 Months
115
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lindfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 259 students
Highfields Preparatory and Kindergarten School
K-2 · 98 students
Lindfield Public School
K-6 · 584 students
Lindfield Learning Village
K-12 · 803 students
Demographics
Lindfield's median age is 40, matching the national benchmark, but education and migration are far above average. University attainment is 69.6%, sitting 39.5 percentage points above the national level, and 44.8% of residents were born overseas, 23.2 points higher than nationally. Chinese ancestry is the largest recorded group at 3,210 people, ahead of English at 2,892. Mandarin with 743 speakers and Cantonese with 396 explain much of the local retail, schooling and family-service demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.2%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
44.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is expensive but stable at the top end. The median moved from $1.984 million in 2024 to $2.025 million in 2025, a 2.1% rise, and the latest price is also the recorded peak with a 0.0% fall from peak to latest. Ownership is mature: 38.4% own outright, 32.4% have a mortgage and 29.2% rent. The price-to-income ratio is about 13.8 times annualised household income, higher than an average affordability setting, which helps explain why apartments at 44.4% are important despite 40.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,450
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,174
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
369
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.6%
Couples, no children
9,403
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lindfield's economy is shaped by professional, health and finance incomes. Professional and tech work accounts for 20.3% of employed residents, followed by healthcare at 15.6%, finance at 14.5%, education at 9.8% and public admin at 5.9%. Occupations reinforce this, with 2,330 professionals and 1,138 managers. Unemployment is 4.3% and full-time work is 67.2% of employed residents. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 10: IEO 1184, IER 1105, IRSD 1109 and IRSAD 1169, showing advantage across education, resources and disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
13,770
Unemployed
407
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.2%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
4,787
Occupations
Top Industries
University
69.6%
Postgraduate
25.2%
Born Overseas
44.8%
Dwellings
3,824
Transport to Work
Lindfield's livability leans on education, rail access and high socio-economic advantage. There are 4 local schools with ICSEA scores from 1152 to 1168, led by Holy Family Catholic Primary at 1168, Highfields Preparatory at 1164 and Lindfield Public at 1162, giving families Catholic, Independent and Government choices. Commuting is still car-heavy, with 74.1% driving compared with 14.0% using public transport and 6.2% walking or cycling. IRSAD decile 10 supports strong local amenity because high-income households sustain services.
Drive
74.1%
Public Transport
14.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.85%/yr
(+219 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The trend forecast adds 0.85% a year, or 219 people annually, with the medium path rising from 26,033 in 2026 to 27,129 in 2031. Migration is the main engine: overseas migration averages +537 people a year, higher than the -355 net internal outflow, so churn is driven by international arrivals replacing households moving elsewhere. The gentrification score is 15 and the stage is Not gentrifying, which fits an already premium suburb. The shift label is Declining young, with young share down 2.3 points and senior share up 2.4 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+537
Net Internal / yr
-355
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +16% since 2011, Net internal outflow -355/yr, Strong overseas inflow +537/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lindfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lindfield a good suburb to live in?
Yes for households wanting north shore schools, income strength and station access. Lindfield has 4 local schools, household income in the 96.2 percentile and a 14.0% public transport commute share, though the $2.025 million house median is a major entry barrier.
What is the median house price in Lindfield?
The median house price in Lindfield is $2.025 million for 2025. That is up from $1.984 million in 2024, a 2.1% increase, with the latest reading also matching the recorded peak price.
What schools are in Lindfield?
Lindfield has 4 local schools: Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Highfields Preparatory and Kindergarten School, Lindfield Public School and Lindfield Learning Village. Their ICSEA range is 1152 to 1168, with enrolments from 98 to 803.
Is Lindfield safe?
Suburb-level crime-rate figures are not available, so safety should be checked against current NSW crime maps and street-level inspections. Local context includes 10,943 residents, 4 schools and 6.2% of commuters walking or cycling.
Is Lindfield good for property investment?
Lindfield can suit investors seeking affluent tenants and long-term land scarcity, with 29.2% of homes rented and median rent at $600 a week. The caution is vacancy at 8.8%, which means tenant demand should be tested street by street.
How is Lindfield's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 0.85% a year, equal to about 219 additional people annually. The medium path rises from 26,033 in 2026 to 27,129 in 2031, led by +537 overseas migration per year despite -355 internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Lindfield?
Lindfield has a strong multilingual profile, with 44.8% of residents born overseas. Mandarin has 743 speakers, Cantonese 396, Korean 157, Japanese 80 and Hindi 49, reflecting the suburb's large Chinese ancestry count of 3,210.
Is there much development in Lindfield?
Yes. Lindfield recorded 99 development applications over 12 months, including recent dwelling house and residential accommodation certificates. That level of activity is higher than a quiet maintenance market and can affect local stock choice.
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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