Loftus
Household income at the 91.2nd percentile nationally, yet only 11.3% of residents rent: Loftus combines premium wealth with one of Sydney's most owner-dominated tenure profiles. The $1.5 million median house price, 88.1% separate-house stock and 43.9% outright-ownership rate together describe a suburb where established families hold property for the long term. Population is 4,190 across 2.53 km2, and the median age of 39 sits one year below the national figure. University qualifications reach 37%, some 6.9 percentage points above the national average.
Population
4,190
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1.5 million places Loftus well above the NSW state median, and the 3.7% price growth from $1,475,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025 shows steady upward momentum. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.1%, with semi-detached at 11.6% and apartments at just 0.4%, so buyers face limited alternatives if they miss out on houses. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 43.8% and three-bedroom homes 47.6%, skewing large. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, which makes purchase more serviceable than many premium Sydney markets. Outright owners at 43.9% nearly match mortgage holders at 44.8%, a sign that established wealth and long tenure dominate rather than recent speculative buying.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1.5 million places Loftus well above the NSW state median, and the 3.7% price growth from $1,475,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025 shows steady upward momentum. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.1%, with semi-detached at 11.6% and apartments at just 0.4%, so buyers face limited alternatives if they miss out on houses. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 43.8% and three-bedroom homes 47.6%, skewing large. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, which makes purchase more serviceable than many premium Sydney markets. Outright owners at 43.9% nearly match mortgage holders at 44.8%, a sign that established wealth and long tenure dominate rather than recent speculative buying.
For Investors
With only 11.3% of residents renting, Loftus is one of the lower-rental suburbs in the Sutherland Shire, which narrows the landlord opportunity relative to inner-city markets. Weekly rent of $550 against a $1.5 million median implies a gross yield below 2%, uncompetitive compared to national rental yield averages. The vacancy rate of 2.9% is in line with broader Sydney but not tight enough to indicate undersupply. Development activity is active at 35 applications in the past 12 months, mostly pool and alteration works rather than new dwellings, so supply is not expanding. Overseas migration adds a net 36 residents annually while internal migration subtracts 64, producing slight net population decline, which does not support strong rental demand growth. The investment case leans on capital growth, supported by the premium detached-house stock and constrained new supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
204
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Loftus iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Loftus Public School
K-6 · 337 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 is one year below the national figure, though the demographic trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.8 points and the working-age share fell 3.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 11.9%, which is 9.7 percentage points below the national average, making Loftus one of the more locally-born suburbs in greater Sydney. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic led by English (1,827), Irish (665) and Scottish (457). University qualifications at 37% run 6.9 points above the national figure. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the family-oriented composition: 1,830 couples with children compared to 753 couples without children. Volunteering participation reaches 17.7%, above typical suburban averages, reflecting the stable, connected character of the resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.1%
Houses
11.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is notably owner-heavy: 43.9% own outright and 44.8% hold a mortgage, leaving only 11.3% renting, well below state and national averages. Outright owners almost matching mortgage holders indicates a community of long-established residents rather than a high-turnover market. Dwelling stock is almost entirely separate houses at 88.1%, with semi-detached at 11.6% and apartments at 0.4%, creating a scarce premium for detached supply. Bedroom distribution skews large: 43.8% have four-plus bedrooms and 47.6% have three bedrooms, with only 7.4% at two bedrooms. Prices rose 3.7% from $1,475,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 22.7%, both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are more manageable here than in much of greater Sydney at comparable price points.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$939
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.9%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
3,757
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 14.5% (229 workers), closely followed by Construction at 12.0% (189) and Education at 11.9% (188). Professional/Technical services account for 11.3% and Public Administration 10.6%, giving the workforce a white-collar, public-sector orientation. By occupation, Professionals (601) are the largest group, ahead of Clerical/Admin (299) and Managers (296). The unemployment rate of 3.1% is low relative to the national rate, and the full-time employment rate of 62.6% is healthy. The SEIFA IRSD and IER both score decile 10, the highest advantage tier nationally, while IRSAD sits at decile 9 and IEO at decile 8. Real income grew 14.5% over the decade, and household income in the 91.2nd percentile nationally reflects the professional workforce concentration.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
4,189
Unemployed
99
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.6%
Part-time
34.3%
Participation
58.3%
Employed
1,853
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.0%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
11.9%
Dwellings
1,406
Transport to Work
Car reliance is very high at 86.5%, above the national average, while only 6.2% use public transport, reflecting the suburban layout and limited rail frequency. Walking and cycling account for 2.3% of commutes. SEIFA IRSD scores decile 10, the highest advantage tier nationally, indicating very low disadvantage in the area. The IRSAD sits at decile 9, also in the top tier. Only 4.8% of residents (196 people) need daily assistance, low for a suburb with an aging demographic trajectory. Housing stress indicators are benign: mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 22.7% both sit comfortably below the 30% threshold. Resident stability is high, with 88.1% having not moved in the prior five years, pointing to a community where people stay rather than cycle through.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
6.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.07%/yr
(-5 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is minimal: the annual trend is -0.07%, equivalent to losing about 5 persons per year, and the 10-year change is just 2.0%. The current population of 4,190 has been broadly stable. Overseas migration contributes a net 36 arrivals annually, but internal migration subtracts 64, producing the slight net outflow. The medium forecast holds the SA2-level population near 7,391 in 2026, declining to approximately 7,364 by 2031, reflecting Sydney's broader aging and household-size compression. The demographic shift is aging: the senior share rose 4.8 points over the decade. The gentrification score is 0, consistent with a suburb already at the top of the socioeconomic ladder with no further ladder to climb. Affordability improved from 62.3% in 2011 to 56.6% in 2021, though the $1.5 million median keeps entry high.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+36
Net Internal / yr
-64
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Loftus compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Loftus a good suburb to live in?
Loftus scores decile 10 on the IRSD and IER indexes, the highest advantage tier nationally, with household income at the 91.2nd percentile. The suburb has 88.1% separate houses, low housing stress (mortgage-to-income 24.8%) and a 88.1% five-year resident retention rate, all signals of a stable, high-quality residential environment.
What is the median house price in Loftus?
The median house price is $1,500,000, rising 3.7% from $1,475,000 in 2024 to $1,530,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Loftus?
No schools are recorded inside the Loftus boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Sutherland Shire. The local population is well-educated, with university qualifications at 37%, which is 6.9 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Loftus safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Loftus in this dataset. As indirect indicators, Loftus scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and only 4.8% of its 4,190 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable residential area.
Is Loftus good for property investment?
Only 11.3% of residents rent, and $550 weekly rent against a $1.5 million median implies a gross yield below 2%, lower than the national average. Net internal migration subtracts 64 residents annually, limiting rental demand growth. The investment case rests on capital growth from constrained detached-house supply rather than yield.
How is Loftus's population changing?
Population is nearly flat at -0.07% annually, representing a loss of about 5 persons per year, with a 10-year change of just 2.0%. Overseas migration adds 36 residents a year but is offset by 64 net internal departures. The demographic trend is aging, with the senior share up 4.8 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Loftus?
There were 35 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are pool installations and alterations to existing dwellings rather than new housing supply, which is typical for an established suburb with 88.1% separate-house stock and only 0.4% apartment share.
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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